\  I    f\  i  ;  H .  f 


*f  Ml  B^>  "-""''?" »»—»»—«»■— ■» 


■mn in  nil 


—■—'■——■"  " nmmimuj   -■-■■■ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 
IHIl  II 


10003058511 


OLD    ROUGH   AND    READY   SERIES. 


1.  OLD  ROUGH  AND  READY. 

YOUNG  FOLKS'  LIFE  OF  GEN.  ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 

2.  OLD  HICKORY. 

YOUNG  FOLKS"  LIFE  OF  GEN.  ANDREW  JACKSON. 

3.  THE  MILL  BOY  OF  THE  SLASHES. 

YOUNG  FOLKS'  LIFE  OF  HENRY  CLAY. 

4.  THE  GREAT  EXPOUNDER. 

YOUNG  FOLKS'  LIFE  OF  DANIEL  WEBSTER. 

5.  THE  SWAMP  FOX. 

YOUNG  FOLKS'  LIFE  OF  GEN.  FRANCIS  MARION. 

6.  THE  LITTLE   CORPORAL. 

YOUNG  FOLKS'  LIFE  OF  NAPOLEON  BONAPARTE. 


LEE   AND   SHEPARD,    Publishers, 

BOSTON. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/oldhickoryyoungfOOfros 


Portrait  of  Jackson. 


OLD   ROUGH  AND   READY  SERIES 


LD    HICKOR\ 


7 


YOUNG  FOLKS1   LIFE 


GEN.  ANDREW  JACKSON 

SEVENTH    PRESIDENT   OF   THE    UNITED    STATES 


By    JOHN    FROST 


ILLUSTRATED 


BOSTON 

LEE    AND    SHEPARD    PUBLISHERS 

NEW  YORK 

CHARLES    T.    DILLINGHAM 

1887 


Copyright,  1SS7, 
By   LEE   AND   SHEPARD. 


All  rights  reserved. 


Old  Rough  and  Ready  Series. 


PREFACE. 

N  the  8th  day  of  June,  less  than  one 
month  ago— died,  in  the  fullness  of 
his  years  and  honours,  the  great 
citizen  and  soldier,  Andrew  Jackson 
It  will  be  for  the  men  of  another  age  to 
pass  a  calm  and  enduring  judgment  upon  the 
influence  of  his  remarkable  career  upon  the 
character  and  destinies  of  the  nation.  But  as  a 
military  commander  of  the  most  splendid  abilities; 
as  a  statesman  who  has  occupied  the  highest  place 
in  the  gift  of  the  people,  with  a  courage  and  strength 
of  intellect  which  have  made  his  name  familiar 
through  the  world ;  as  a  brave,  patriotic  and  high- 
souled  American  ;  he  is  even  now  contemplated  by 
the  men  of  every  opinion  and  party. 

C3) 


IV  PREFACE. 

He  lived  a  hero,  and  died  a  Christian.  He  is 
gone  from  a  world  where  he  was  recognised  as 
among  the  greatest  of  men,  to  an  immortal  com- 
panionship with  the  greatest  and  purest  of  all  the 

ages. 

We  have,  in  this  little  volume,  sketched  his  his- 
tory with  carefulness  and  candour,  and  present  the 
record  to  our  young  countrymen,  to  be  placed  with 
that  of  the  life  of  our  Washington,  among  the 
models  to  be  imitated  by  all  who  would  attain  a 
similar  elevation  in  the  world. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Birth  and  Parentage  of  Jackson — Death  of  his  Father— An  exemplary 
Mother — Jackson  is  sent  to  School . . .  .„ .. .  .Page  9 

CHAPTER  II. 

Life  during  the  Revolutionary  War — Invasion  of  South  Carolina  by  the 
British — Attack  on  the  Waxhaw  Settlement — Jackson  enters  the  Amer- 
ican Army — His  first  Field — His  quickness  of  conception — A  desperate 
Affair — A  Stratagem  of  the  Enemy — Capture  of  Jackson — Attempted  in- 
dignity— Resistance  of  Jackson — He  is  wounded — Hobkirk  Hill — Anec- 
dote   13 

CHAPTER  III. 

Close  of  the  Revolutionary  War — Death  of  Jackson's  Erother  and  Mother- 
Severe  Illness — Jackson  enters  upon  the  enjoyment  of  his  Patrimony — 
Squanders  it — Sudden  resolution — Jackson  studies  Law — Is  admitted  to 
Practice — Receives  the  appointment  of  Solicitor 22 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Jackson  emigrates  to  Tennessee— Anecdotes  of  his  Life  while  practising  as  a 
Lawyer — A  hazardous  Adventure — Timely  warning ..  25 

CHAPTER  V. 

Jackson  locates  himself  permanently  at  Nashville — Expeditions  against  the 
Indians — "Sharp  Knife" — Jackson  makes  the  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Ro- 

bards — His  Marriage ^.   1 1 

(5) 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Jackson  applies  himself  to  his  Profession — Trouble  with  the  "Bullies" — H« 
is  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress — Resigns — Is  appointed  a  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Tennessee — -Anecdote — He  resigns  the  Judgeship 
— Retirement 35 

CHAPTER  VII. 

A  Duel — Jackson  enters  into  the  Mercantile  business — Dishonesty  of  aia 
Partner — Noble  conduct  of  Jackson 3tf 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Adventure  with  an  Indian  Agent 42 

CHAPTER  DL 

War  of  1812 — Jackson  is  placed  in  command  of  twenty-five  hundred  men— » 
Marches  to  Natchez — Is  ordered  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  dismiss  his 
men — Refuses — Returns  to  Tennessee 45 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Indian  Campaign — Massacre  at  Fort  Mimms— Jackson  again  takes  the 
Field — Battle  of  Tallushatchee— An  Indian  protege 52 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Battle  of  Talladega 60 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Privations  of  the  Army — Anecdote — Mutiny  of  the  Troops — Firmness  of 
Jackson 64 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Battle  of  Emuckfaw  —Of  Enotoc^opco — Cowardice  of  Stump  and  Perkins  77 


CONTENTS.  VII 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Battle  of  Tohopeka — Kindness  of  Jackson . ...«,...  81 

CHAPTER  XV 

Continuation  of  the  Indian  Campaign — Jackson's  Address  to  the  Army- 
Submission  of  the  Indians — Disbanding  of  the  Troops 88 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Southern  Campaign  against  the  British — Jackson  is  appointed  a  Major-Gen- 
eral of  the  United  States — Duplicity  of  the  Spanish  Governor  of  Pensacola 
—Defeat  of  the  British  at  Fort  Bowyer — Jackson  captures  Pensacoia — 
Approach  of  a  large  hostile  Force . 95 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Jackson  at  New  Orleans — Discouraging  circumstances 100 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Battle  of  the  23d  of  December „ 103 

CHAPTER  XDL 

Further  operations — Fortification  of  the  City — Supposed  disaffection— Skh 
mish  of  the  1st  of  January  .„ 119 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Eighth  of  January,  1815 — A  Deserter — The  British  advance  to  the  attack 
— Terrible  slaughter — Fall  of  Packenham — Defeat  of  the  British — Re- 
w  ud  of  Treachery 130 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

New  Orleans  after  the  Battle — Jackson  is  fined  one  thousand  dollars. ..  141 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Jackson  returns  to  Tennessee — Difficulties  with  the  Seminoles — Jackson  en 
ters  Florida — Captures  St.  Mark's — Execution  of  Arbuthnot  and  Ambriste? 
— Destruction  of  Suwaney  and  Mickasuky — Jackson  takes  possession  of 
Pensacola — End  of  the  Seminole  Campaign 145 

CHAPTER  XXIII 
Jackson  after  the  Seminole  War 154 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Acquisition  of  the  Floridas — Jackson  appointed  Governor — Enters  upon  tha 
duties  of  his  office — His  resignation — He  is  elected  a  Senator  of  the  United 
States 157 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Tackson  is  nominated  for  the  Presidency — Receives  a  majority  of  the  populai 
vote,  but  is  defeated  in  the  House  of  Representatives — Jackson's  second 
nomination — He  is  triumphantly  elected  in  1828 — Re-elected  in  1832— 
Retires  from  public  life 16J> 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

TLd  last  hours  of  Jackson — His  Death - _.......  168 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Funeral  Honours — Character  of  Jackson — His  personal  appearance. . .,  171 


LIFE 


ANDREW  JACKSON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HIS    BIRTH    AND    PARENTAGE. 

NDREW  JACKSON  was  born  on 
the  15th  of  March,  1767,  in  the  state 
of  South  Carolina.  This  distinguished 
hero  can  trace  no  line  of  splendid 
ancestry.  He  may,  however,  boast  of  having 
sprung  from  a  race  distinguished  for  honesty, 
wj  courage,  and  generous  hospitality, 
v  His  father  (Andrew)  was  the  youngest  son 

of  a  Scotch  family,  whose  ancestors  had  at  some 
remote  period  emigrated  to  the  north  of  Ireland. 
To  escape  the  troubles  brought  upon  that  country 
by  the  English  government,  Andrew  Jackson,  with 
his  wife  and  two  sons,  Hugh  and  Robert,  emigrated 
to  Charleston,  Scuth  Carolina,  in  17G5.     Having 


10  LIFE     O  F 

purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  what  was  then  called 
the  "  Waxhaw  settlement,"  (about  forty-five  miles 
above  Camden,  and  near  the  boundary  line  of  North 
Carolina,)  he  left  Charleston  shortly  after,  and  set- 
tled here  with  his  family.  In  two  years  after  his 
arrival  at  the  Waxhaw  settlement,  Andrew  Jackson, 
the  subject  of  our  biography,  was  born.  Thus  do 
we  see  that  to  no  long  line  of  titled  ancestors,  to  no 
extensive  connection  with  the  wealthy  and  influen- 
tial, is  General  Jackson  indebted  for  the  high  place 
he  occupies  in  the  confidence  and  affections  of  his 
countrymen,  and  the  rank  he  is  destined  to  hold 
among  the  good  and  the  great  of  mankind. 

The  progress  of  General  Jackson,  from  the 
"  plough  to  the  presidency,"  is  an  instructive  and 
encouraging  lesson  to  the  youth  of  his  country. 

Shortly  after  the  birth  of  Jackson,  his  father  died, 
leaving  himself  and  his  two  brothers  under  the  sole 
protection  and  guardianship  of  their  mother.  And 
well  did  this  remarkable  woman  deserve  and  execute 
the  duties  of  her  station.  It  has  been  said,  that 
many  great  men  have  been  indebted  for  their  success 
to  the  early  principles  and  lessons  inculcated  by  a 
wise  mother.  The  life  of  General  Jackson  is  an 
additional  proof  of  the  correctness  of  this  remark ; 
for  the  many  acts  of  female  heroism,  and  devotion 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  11 

both  to  her  family  and  her  adopted  country,  prove 
that  the  mother  of  our  hero  was  a  woman  of  no 
common  mind.  She  appears  to  have  been  an  exem- 
plary woman,  and  to  have  executed  the  arduous 
duties  which  had  devolved  on  her  with  great  faith- 
fulness and  with  much  success.  To  the  lessons  she 
inculcated  on  the  youthful  minds  of  her  sons  was, 
no  doubt,  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  that  fixed  op- 
position to  British  tyranny  and  oppression  which 
afterward  so  much  distinguished  them.  Often 
would  she  spend  the  winter's  evenings  in  recount- 
ing to  them  the  sufferings  of  their  grandfather  at 
the  siege  of  Carrickfergus,  and  the  oppressions 
exercised  by  the  nobility  of  Ireland  over  the  labour 
ing  poor ;  impressing  it  upon  them,  as  a  first  duty, 
to  expend  their  lives,  if  it  should  become  necessary, 
in  defending  and  supporting  the  natural  rights  of 
man. 

Inheriting  but  a  small  patrimony  from  their  father, 
it  was  impossible  that  all  the  sons  could  receive  an 
expensive  education.  The  two  eldest  were,  there- 
fore, only  taught  the  rudiments  of  their  mother 
tongue,  at  a  common  country  school.  But  Andrew, 
being  intended  by  his  mother  for  the  ministry,  was 
sent  to  a  flourishing  academy  at  the  Waxhaw 
meeting-house,   superintended  by  Mr.  Humphries 


12  LIFE     OP 

Here  he  was  placed  on  the  study  of  the  dead  Ian 
guages,  and  continued  until  the  revolutionary  war, 
extending  its  ravages  into  that  section  of  South 
Carolina  where  he  then  was,  rendered  it  necessary 
Jiat  every  one  should  betake  himself  to  the  Ameri- 
can standard,  seek  protection  with  the  enemy,  oi 
(lee  his  country. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  13 


CHAPTER  II. 

LIFE    DURING    THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

N  1775,  when  the  revolutionary  war 
broke  out,  Andrew  Jackson  was  but 
eight  years  old.  Although  it  was  some 
years  afterwards  when  its  bloody  foot- 
steps approached  his  rosidencc,  he  heard  of 
its  battles  and  its  horrors  from  afar,  and  may 
be  said  to  have  grown  up  amidst  war's 
alarms.  All  around  him  the  men  were  train- 
ins  themselves  for  battle,  and  from  his  mother  and 
teacher  he  received  constant  lessons  of  patriotic 
devotion. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  Jackson  had  an 
opportunity  of  being  an  eye-witness  to  the  butcher- 
ies of  a  savage  war.  South  Carolina  was  invaded 
by  the  British  in  1779,  and  in  the  early  part  of 
1780  the  war  was  pushed  with  renewed  vigour,  and 
reached  the  hitherto  peaceful  settlement  of  tha 
Waxhaws. 


14  L  I  F  E    OF 

On  the  29th  May,  1780,  a  division  of  the  Ameri- 
can army,  under  Colonel  Buford,  was  attacked  in 
the  Waxhaw  settlement  by  Colonel  Tarleton,  and 
suffered  a  total  defeat.  One  hundred  and  fifteen  of 
the  Americans  were  killed,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  desperately  wounded.  Some  of  the  men  had 
received  no  less  than  thirteen  wounds.  The  Wax- 
haw  meeting-house  was  converted  into  a  hospital ; 
and  here  had  the  young  Jackson  an  opportunity  of 
witnessing  the  horrors  of  war.  The  mangled  bodies 
of  his  countrymen,  presented  a  sad  confirmation  of 
those  impressions  made  upon  his  youthful  mind  by 
the  tales  of  English  cruelty  which  he  had  so  often 
heard  from  his  mother  and  kindred. 

Shortly  after  this,  Mrs.  Jackson,  with  her  two 
sons,  Robert  and  Andrew  (she  had  already  lost  her 
eldest,  Hugh,  who  perished  in  the  battle  of  Stono), 
retired  before  the  invading  army  into  North  Caro- 
lina. Here  she  remained  but  a  short  time,  and,  re- 
turning to  the  Waxhaws,  her  two  sons  entered  the 
ranks  of  the  American  army,  and  were  present  at 
the  battle  of  Hanging  Rock,  on  the  6th  of  iVugust, 
1780,  in  which  their  corps  particularly  distinguished 
itself.  This  was  General  Jackson's  first  field,  and 
he  was  little  over  thirteen  years  old  on  the  day  of 
the  battle. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  15 

In  the  month  of  September  following,  Mrs.  Jack 
eon  and  her  sons,  with  most  of  the  Waxhaw  set- 
tlers, were  again  compelled  to  retire  before  the  Bri- 
tish army  into  North  Carolina.  They  returned, 
however,  in  February,  1781,  as  soon  as  they  heard 
that  Lord  Cornwallis  had  crossed  the  Yadkin.  The 
war  had  now  assumed  a  degree  of  savage  ferocity. 
Private  revenge,  on  both  sides,  found  ready  means 
of  gratification  in  this  system  of  partisan  warfare. 
The  laws  were  not  enforced,  and  there  were  no 
courts  to  protect  innocence  or  punish  crime, — men 
hunted  each  other  like  beasts  of  prey,  and  the  sava- 
ges were  outdone  in  cruelty.  In  such  a  school  was 
our  hero  tutored.  Boys,  big  enough  to  carry  mus- 
kets, incurred  the  dangers  of  men.  Robert  and 
Andrew  Jackson  had  their  guns  and  their  horses, 
and  were  almost  always  in  company  with  some 
armed  party  of  their  kindred  and  neighbours.  Men 
could  not  sleep  unguarded  in  their  own  houses,  with- 
out danger  of  being  surprised  and  murdered. 

It  was  upon  such  an  occasion,  that  Andrew  Jack- 
son gave  the  first  illustration  of  that  quickness  of 
conception,  and  readiness  of  action,  which  after 
wards  placed  him  in  the  highest  rank  of  military 
chieftains.  A  patriot  captain,  named  Lands,  de- 
sired to  spend  a  night  with  his  family.     The  two 


16  LIFE     O  F 

Jacksons  and  six  others  constituted  his  guard  ;  the} 
were  in  all  nine  men  and  seven  muskets.  Having 
no  expectations  of  an  attack,  they  all,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  British  deserter,  who  was  one  of  the 
party,  went  to  sleep.  Lands'  house  was  in  the  cen- 
tre of  an  enclosed  yard,  and  had  two  doors,  facing 
east  and  west.  In  front  of  the  east  door  stood  a 
forked  apple-tree.  In  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
yard  were  a  corn-crib  and  stable,  under  one  roof, 
ranging  east  and  west.  On  the  south  was  a  wood, 
and  through  this  wood  passed  the  road  which  led  to 
the  house. 

A  party  of  the  Tories  had  become  apprised  of 
Lands'  return,  and  had  determined  to  surprise  and 
kill  mm. 

Approaching  through  the  wood,  and  tying  their 
horses  behind  the  stable,  they  divided  into  two  par- 
ties, one  going  round  the  east  end  of  the  stable,  in- 
tending to  enter  the  east  door  of  the  house,  while 
the  other  went  round  the  west  end,  making  for  the 
west  door.  At  this  moment,  the  soldier,  who  was 
awake,  hearing  some  noise  in  the  direction  of  the 
stable,  went  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter,  and 
perceived  the  party,  which  was  entering  the  yard  at 
the  east  end  of  the  building.  Running  back  in  ter- 
ror, he  seized   Andrew   Jackson,  who   was  nearest 


ills  i  IP 


Jackson's  Pkesenck  of  Mind. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  17 

the  door,  by  the  hair,  exclaiming,  "  the  Tories  are 
upon  us !"  Our  young  hero  ran  out,  and  putting 
nis  gun  through  the  fork  of  the  apple-tree,  hailed 
the  approaching  band.  Having  repeated  his  hail 
and  received  no  answer,  and  perceiving  that  the 
party  still  rapidly  advanced,  and  were  now  only  a 
few  rods  distant,  he  fired.  A  volley  was  returned, 
which  killed  the  soldier,  who,  having  aroused  the 
inmates  of  the  house,  had  followed  young  Jackson, 
and  was  standing  near  him.  The  other  band  of 
Tories  had  now  emerged  from  the  west  end  of  the 
stable,  and  mistaking  the  discharge  of  the  advance 
party,  then  nearly  on  a  line  between  them  and  the 
apple-tree,  for  the  fire  of  a  sallying  party  from  the 
house,  commenced  a  sharp  fire  upon  their  own 
friends.  Thus  both  parties  were  brought  to  a 
stand.  Young  Andrew,  after  discharging  his  gun, 
returned  into  the  house  ;  and  with  two  others  com- 
menced a  fire  from  the  west  door,  where  both  of  his 
companions  were  shot  down,  one  of  them  with  a 
mortal  wound. 

The  Tories  still  kept  up  the  fire  upon  each  other, 
as  well  as  upon  the  house,  until  startled  by  the 
sound  of  a  cavalry  bugle  in  the  distance, — they  be- 
took themselves  to  their  horses,  and  fled.  The 
charge  was  sounded  by  a  Major  Isbel,  of  the  ncigh- 

B 


18  LI  FE     OF 

bourhood,  who  had  not  a  man  with  him,  but,  hear- 
ing the  firing,  and  knowing  that  Lands  was  attacked, 
gave  the  blast  upon  his  trumpet  to  alarm  the  assail- 
ants. 

General  Jackson  was  then  only  fourteen  years 
old  ;  but  who  does  not  recognise  in  the  boy  of  1781 
the  general  of  1814?  By  his  fire  from  the  apple- 
tree  he  brought  the  enemy  to  a  stand,  and  saved  his 
little  party  from  capture  and  massacre;  by  rushing 
down  upon  the  enemy  on  the  night  of  December 
1814,  he  saved  an  army  from  capture,  and  a  city 
from  plunder. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  above  occurrence  tha 
about  forty  of  the  Waxhaw  settlers,  among  whom 
were  young  Jackson,  had  rendezvoused  at  the  meet- 
ing-house. After  their  return  from  North  Carolina, 
the  British  commander  had  despatched  Major  Coffin, 
with  a  corps  of  light  dragoons,  to  the  settlement. 
When  the  enemy  approached  the  place  of  rendez- 
vous, they  kept  a  band  of  Tories,  dressed  in  the 
common  garb  of  the  country,  in  front,  so  that  the 
patriots  who  had  been  in  expectation  of  a  friendly 
company,  under  Captain  Nisbett,  were  completely 
deceived,  and  fell  an  easy  prey  to  this  stratagem. 
Eleven  of  them  were  taken  prisoners,  tho  rest  with 
difficulty  ftad,  scattering,  and  betaking  themselves 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  19 

to  the  woods  for  concealment.  Of  those  who  thus 
escaped,  though  closely  pursued,  were  Andrew  Jack- 
son and  his  brother,  who,  entering  a  secret  bend  in 
a  creek  that  was  close  at  hand,  obtained  a  moment- 
ary respite  from  danger,  and  avoided,  for  the  night, 
the  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  The  next  day,  however, 
having  gone  to  a  neighbouring  house  for  the  pur- 
pose of  procuring  something  to  eat,  they  were 
broken  in  upon,  and  made  prisoners,  by  Coffin's  dra- 
goons and  a  party  of  Tories  who  accompanied 
them.  The  young  men,  with  a  view  to  security, 
had  placed  their  horses  in  the  wood,  on  the  margin 
of  a  small  creek,  and  posted  on  the  road  which  led 
by  the  house  a  sentinel,  that  they  might  have  in- 
formation of  any  approach,  and  in  time  to  be  able 
to  elude  it.  But  the  Tories,  who  were  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  country  and  the  passes  through 
the  forest,  had  unfortunately  passed  the  creek  at  the 
very  point  where  the  horses  and  baggage  of  oui 
young  soldiers  wrere  deposited,  and  taken  possession 
of  them.  Having  done  this,  they  approached  cau- 
tiously the  house,  and  were  almost  at  the  door  be- 
fore they  were  discovered.  To  escape  was  impos- 
sible, and  both  were  made  prisoners.  Being  placed 
under  guard,  Andrew  was  ordered,  in  a  very  impe- 
rious tone,  by  a  British  officer,  to  clean  his  boots; 


20  L  I  F  E    O  F 

which  had  become  muddied  in  crossing  the  creerf. 
This  order  he  positively  and  peremptorily  refused 
to  obey ;  alleging  that  he  looked  for  such  treatment 
as  a  prisoner  of  war  had  a  right  to  expect.  In- 
censed at  his  refusal,  the  officer  aimed  a  blow  at  his 
head  with  a  drawn  sword,  which  would  very  proba- 
bly have  terminated  his  existence  had  he  not  parried 
its  effects  by  throwing  up  his  left  hand,  on  which  he 
received  a  severe  wound,  the  mark  of  which  he 
bore  until  his  death.  His  brother,  at  the  same  time, 
for  a  similar  offence,  received  a  deep  cut  on  the 
head,  which  subsequently  occasioned  his  death. 
They  were  both  now  taken  to  jail,  where,  separated 
and  confined,  they  were  treated  with  marked  sever- 
ity, until  a  few  days  after  the  battle  before  Camden, 
when,  in  consequence  of  a  partial  exchange,  effected 
by  the  intercessions  and  exertions  of  their  mother, 
and  Captain  Walker  of  the  militia,  they  were  both 
released  from  confinement. 

An  anecdote. may  here  be  related,  illustrative  of 
young  Jackson's  energy  of  character.  During  his 
confinement  at  Camden,  General  Greene  made  his 
unsuccessful  attack  on  the  British  forces  stationed 
there  under  Lord  Ravvdon.  Camden  is  situated  on 
a  hill.  Greene  had  encamped  on  Hobkirk's  Hill, 
about  a  mile  distant,  and  in  full  view  of  the  redoubt 
in  which  the  prisoners  were  confined. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  21 

By  the  signs  and  sounds  around  him,  on  the  24th 
of  April,  young  Jackson  became  satisfied  that  the 
British  intended  to  surprise  the  American  army, 
which,  under  no  apprehension  of  an  attack,  rested 
in  perfect  security.  Jackson  felt  convinced  that  this 
would  be  attempted  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  and 
he  was  most  anxious  to  witness  the  conflict.  This, 
however,  was  forbidden  by  the  intervention  of  a 
thick  plank  fence,  that  ran  around  the  redoubt,  and 
completely  shut  out  the  view  of  the  surrounding 
country.  The  board  fence  was  thoroughly  ex 
amined,  but  not  a  hole  or  crevice  was  to  be  found 
through  which  his  eager  eye  could  obtain  a  view  of 
Greene's  encampment.  As  a  last  resource,  he  set 
to  work  with  an  old  razor-blade,  which  had  been 
furnished  the  prisoners  to  eat  their  rations  with,  and 
working  during  most  of  the  night,  he  continued  to 
dig  one  of  the  knots  out  of  the  pine  planks,  with 
which  the  fence  was  constructed,  and  through  this 
he  obtained  a  full  view  of  Greene's  encampment. 

During  the  next  day,  however,  he  was  doomed  to 
witness  the  defeat  of  the  American  army,  with  the 
reflection  that  his  imprisonment  was  not  only  to  be 
protracted,  but  to  be  shared  with  new  victims  to 
British  cruelty. 


22  LIFE    OF 


CHAPTER  III. 

CLOSE   OF   THE    REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. STUDY   OF    LAW 

HORTLY  after  their  release,  Andrew 
Jackson  lost  his  only  brother,  who 
died  from  the  effects  of  the  wound 
received  at  the  hands  of  the  brutal 
officer,  as  related  in  the  preceding  chapter. 
To  add  to  his  afflictions,  his  mother,  worn 
down  by  grief,  and  her  incessant  exertions  to 
provide  clothing  and  other  comforts  for  the 
suffering  prisoners  who  had  been  taken  from  her 
neighbourhood,  expired  in  a  few  weeks  after  her 
son,  near  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Charleston.  He — the  last  and  only  surviving  child, 
confined  to  a  bed  of  sickness,  occasioned  by  the 
sufferings  he  had  been  compelled  to  undergo  while 
a  prisoner,  and  by  getting  wet  on  his  return  from 
captivity — was  thus  left  in  the  wide  world  without  a 
human  being  with  whom  he  could  claim  near  rela- 
tionship.    The  small-pox,  about  the  same  time,  hav 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  23 

ing  made  its  appearance  upon  him,  had  well-nigh 
terminated  his  sorrows  and  his  existence. 

Recovering,  however,  from  his  complicated  afflic- 
tions, he  entered  upon  the  enjoyment  of  his  estate, 
which,  though  small,  would  have  been  sufficient  to 
have  given  him  a  liberal  education.  Circumstances, 
however,  led  to  his  expending  this  patrimonial  pro- 
perty with  too  profuse  a  hand.  During  the  occupa- 
tion of  Charleston  by  the  British,  a  number  of  the 
polished  inhabitants  of  that  city  had  retired  to  the 
Waxhaw  settlement,  and  there  remained.  With 
some  of  these  young  men  Jackson  had  contracted 
habits  of  intimacy,  and  at  the  evacuation  of  Charles- 
ton he  accompanied  them  in  their  return  to  the  city 
Not  wishing  to  be  behind  his  companions  in  expen- 
diture, his  small  property  soon  melted  away,  and  he 
wras  left  with  only  a  fine  mare,  which  he  had  carried 
along  with  him  from  the  Waxhaw  settlement.  She 
too  was  at  length  staked  against  a  sum  of  money 
in  a  game  of  "  rattle  and  snap."  Jackson  won  the 
game,  and,  taking  a  sudden  resolution,  he  put  the 
money  in  his  pocket,  paid  his  bill,  and  bidding  adieu 
10  his  friends,  he  started  for  the  Waxhaws.  Here, 
having  collected  the  little  remains  of  his  property, 
he  took  leave  of  the  friends  of  his  youth,  and  start- 
ing for  Salisbury,  N.  C,  he  placed  himself  in  the 


24  LIFE     OF 

office  of  Spruce  M'Cay,  Esq.,  then  an  eminent  eoun« 
sellor  there,  with  the  view  of  preparing  himself 
for  the  practice  of  law.  This  was  in  the  winter 
of  1784. 

Thus  did  young  Jackson,  with  an  effort  of  his 
inborn  energy,  cut  short  his  career  of  dissipation — 
and  his  reformation  was  thorough  and  enduring. 
He  afterwards  continued  his  studies  under  Colonel 
Stokes,  also  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  in  a  little  more 
than  two  years  received  a  license  to  practise  law. 
As  an  evidence  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  was 
at  that  time  held  by  the  influential  men  of  North 
Carolina,  he  soon  after  received  from  the  governor 
the  appointment  of  Solicitor  for  the  western  district 
of  that  state — embracing  the  present  state  of  Ten- 
nessee. 


NDREW     JACKSON.  25 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GENERAL  JACKSON'S  EMIGRATION  TO  TENNESSEE. — ANECDOTES 
OF  HIS  LIFE  WHILE  PRACTISING  AS  A  LAWYER. 

N  the  year  1788,  accompanied  by  Judge 
M'Nairy,  General  Jackson,  then  twenty- 
one  years  old,  crossed  the  mountains, 
for  the  purpose  of  discharging  the  du- 
ties imposed  upon  him  by  his  recent  appoint- 
ment, and  seeking  employment  in  his  profes- 
sion. He  took  up  his  residence  for  some 
time  at  Jonesborough,  then  the  principal  seat 
of  Justice  in  the  Western  District.  In  the  year 
1789,  he  visited  the  settlements  on  the  Cumberland 
River.  On  account  of  the  frequent  and  terrible 
forays  made  by  the  Choctaw  and  Cherokee  Indians 
from  the  South,  most  of  the  settlers  at  this  time 
were  living  in  stations,  and  but  few  separate  cabins 
were  to  be  found  ;  and  it  was  some  time  before  these 
were  scattered  over  the  country.  During  this  time, 
Jackson   made    frequent    professional   visits    from 


26  LIFE     OP 

Jonesborough  to  the  settlements  on  the  Cumberland, 
a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles;  the  hardships  and 
perils  of  which  journeys,  it  is  difficult  for  the  modern 
traveller,  in  steamboats  and  stages,  to  conceive.— 
Often,  with  his  loaded  rifle  on  his  shoulder,  his  pis- 
tols, blanket  and  provisions  strapped  to  his  saddle, 
the  young  lawyer  might  be  met  on  the  dangerous 
route  alone.  Having  to  sleep  out  under  the  open 
sky,  to  ford  deep  and  swollen  streams,  and  not  un- 
frequently  to  pass  whole  days  without  eating,  while 
fat  turkeys,  and  pheasants,  and  deer  were  on  every 
side,  which  he  dared  not  kill,  lest  the  report  of  his 
rifle  might  alarm  the  lurking  savage.  Many  anec- 
dotes and  incidents  occurring  to  our  hero  at  this 
time,  are  strongly  illustrative  of  the  life  of  these 
early  Western  pioneers. 

On  one  occasion,  with  three  companions,  he  was 
on  his  way  from  Jonesborough  to  the  settlements 
on  the  Cumberland.  When  arriving,  just  before 
dark,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Emory,  where  it  issues 
from  the  mountains,  they  saw  the  fires  of  a  large 
party  of  hostile  Indians  on  the  opposite  bank.  The 
party,  by  that  instinct  which  discovers  who  among 
them  is  the  master  mind,  immediately  put  them- 
selves under  the  guidance  of  Jackson.  He  at 
once  led  them  backwards  into  the  mountains,  keep- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  27 

ing  up  the  stream,  for  the  purpose  of  fording  it  at 
some  distance  above,  taking  care,  however,  to  leave 
no  traces  by  which  the  Indians  might  follow  them. 
They  kept  up  the  stream  during  the  whole  night, 
guided  by  the  noise  of  its  current,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing attempted  to  ford  it,  but  found  that  it  was  too 
much  swollen  to  be  waded,  and  too  rapid  to  be 
swum.  Still  fearing  pursuit,  they  kept  on  until  two 
o'clock,  when  they  came  to  a  place  where  the  stream 
presented  a  smooth  surface,  with  a  cataract  below, 
and  another  fall  above.  Still  anxious  to  get  the 
river  between  them  and  their  late  trail,  they  set 
about  forming  a  raft.  This  being  constructed  from 
rude  logs,  bound  together  by  hickory  withes,  and 
having  made  two  oars,  as  well  as  a  rudder,  they 
commenced  the  passage  across.  It  was  cold  March 
weather,  and  therefore  of  the  utmost  importance  to 
keep  their  blankets  and  saddles,  as  well  as  their 
rifles  and  powder,  from  getting  wet.  It  was  con- 
cluded, therefore,  that  Jackson,  with  one  other  of 
the  party,  should  first  carry  over  all  the  moveables, 
and,  returning,  they  could  swim  the  horses  after  the 
raft.  As  soon  as  the  raft  had  been  pushed  out  from 
the  shore,  a  strong  under-current  commenced  fore- 
ing  it  toward  the  falls  below.  Jackson,  regardless 
of  the  admonitions  of  his  companions  on  the  shore, 


28  L  I  F  E     O  F 

continued  for  some  time  to  struggle  with  his  oars 
against  the  current,  but  perceiving  that  his  exertions 
would  be  in  vain,  he  at  last  endeavoured  to  bring 
the  raft  back  to  the  bank  from  which  he  had  started. 

With  all  his  strength  he  was  unable  to  bring  it  to 
land — the  suck  of  the  cataract  had  already  seized 
it.  A  moment  more,  and  the  raft,  with  its  passen- 
gers, would  have  been  dashed  to  pieces, — when 
Jackson,  wrenching  one  of  his  oars  from  its  fasten- 
ings, sprung  to  the  stern,  and  bracing  himself  there, 
held  it  out  to  his  companions  on  the  shore,  who,  for- 
tunately being  within  reach,  seized  hold  of  it  and 
brought  the  raft  to  land.  Reproached  by  his  com- 
panions for  not  heeding  them  when  they  had  first 
warned  him,  Jackson  coolly  replied,  "  a  miss  is  as 
good  as  a  mile — ye  see  how  I  can  graze  danger — 
come  on,  and  I  will  save  you  yet."  Re-equipping 
themselves,  the  party  resumed  their  march  up  the 
stream  ;  and  having  spent  another  night  in  the 
woods,  supperless,  they  found  a  ford  next  morning 
— and  next  day  reached  a  log  cabin  on  their  road, 
about  forty  miles  from  the  Indian  encampment. 

On  another  occasion,  he  reached  the  rendezvous 
of  a  party  at  Bean's  Station,  with  which  he  was  to 
cross  the  wilderness,  the  evening  after  they  had  left. 
With  the  intention  of  overtaking  them,  he  took  a 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  29 

guide  with  him,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  In- 
dian traces,  and  travelled  all  night.  Just  before  day 
he  came  to  the  place  where  his  friends  had  en- 
camped the  night  previous,  and  from  the  traces  the 
guide  discovered  that  a  party  of  Indians  had  gone 
in  pursuit  of  them.  Following  on,  they  came  so 
near  the  Indians  that  the  guide  refused  to  go  any 
further.  Jackson  was  determined  to  save  his 
friends  or  perish  ;  and  dividing  his  provisions  with 
the  guide,  he  suffered  him  to  return,  while  he  kept 
on  after  the  Indians.  At  length  the  traces  of  the 
Indians  turned  to  the  right  from  the  route  which 
the  travellers  had  taken.  Jackson,  rightly  conclud- 
ing that  they  had  made  a  circuit,  to  head  the  party 
and  attack  them  in  the  night,  hastened  his  speed, 
and  overtook  his  friends  just  before  dark.  Having 
just  forded  a  deep  and  frozen  stream,  they  were 
drying  their  clothes  and  warming  themselves  by  the 
fires  which  they  had  kindled.  Taking  advice  from 
Jackson,  they  resumed  their  journey,  and  continued 
it  during  the  whole  night  and  the  next  day.  It  had 
now  commenced  to  snow,  and  the  sky  portended  a 
severe  storm.  Arriving:;  at  the  locj  cabins  of  some 
hunters,  they  requested  shelter  and  protection  dur- 
ing the  night.  They  were,  contrary  to  their  ex- 
pectations, rudely  refused.     Jackson,  wearied  with 


30  LIFE    OF 

the  journey,  and  having  been  two  nights  -without 
sleep,  wrapped  himself  in  his  blanket,  and  lay  down 
by  the  trunk  of  a  large  tree,  where  he  slept  sound- 
ly ;  and  when  awaking  in  the  morning,  he  found 
himself  covered  with  six  inches  of  snow.  The 
party  resumed  their  march,  and  reached  their  des- 
tination in  safety  ;  but  they  afterwards  learned  that 
the  hunters,  who  had  refused  them  shelter,  had  been 
every  one  butchered  by  the  Indians  who  had  pur- 
Bued  them. 


ANDREW     JACKSON. 


31 


CHAPTER  V. 

IACKSOX    LOCATES    HIMSELF    PERMANENTLY  AT   NASHVILLE.— 
HIS    MARRIAGE. 


FTER   making   several    professional 
visits,  back  and  forth,  from  Jonesbo 
rough  to  the  settlement  on  the  Cum 
berland,  Jackson,  wisely  judging  that 
ille  offered  tempting  inducements  to  a 
young  lawyer,  concluded  to  make  a  permanent 
y§    location  in  that  place. 

v  It  had  not  been  Jackson's  intention  certainly 
to  make  Tennessee  the  place  of  his  future  residence  j 
his  visit  was  merely  experimental,  and  his  stay  re- 
mained to  be  determined  by  the  advantages  that 
might  be  disclosed :  but  finding,  soon  after  his  ar- 
rival, that  a  considerable  opening  was  offered  for 
the  success  of  a  young  attorney,  he  determined  to 
remain.  To  one  of  refined  feelings,  the  prospect 
before  him  was  ccrtainlv  not  of  an  encouramn"1  cast. 
A-S  in  all  newiy-settied  countries  must  be  the  case, 


32  LIFE    OF 

society  was  loosely  formed,  and  united  by  but  few 
of  those  ties  which  have  a  tendency  to  enforce  the 
performance  of  moral  duty,  and  the  right  execution 
of  justice.  The  young  men  of  the  place,  adventu- 
rers from  different  sections  of  tne  country,  had  be- 
come indebted  to  the  merchants;  there  was  but  one 
lawyer  in  the  country,  and  they  had  so  contrived  as 
to  retain  him  in  their  business ;  the  consequence 
was,  that  the  merchants  were  entirely  deprived  of 
the  means  of  enforcing  against  the  delinquents  the 
execution  of  their  contracts.  In  this  state  of  things, 
Jackson  made  his  appearance  at  Nashville,  and, 
while  the  creditor  class  looked  to  it  with  great  satis- 
faction, the  debtors  were  sorely  displeased.  Appli- 
cations were  immediately  made  to  him  for  his  pro- 
fessional services,  and  on  the  morning  after  his 
arrival  he  issued  seventy  writs.  To  those  prodigal 
gentlemen  it  was  an  alarming  circumstance ;  their 
former  security  was  impaired  ;  but  that  it  might  not 
wholly  depart,  they  determined  to  force  him,  in  some 
way  or  other,  to  leave  the  country ;  and  to  effect 
this,  broils  and  quarrels  with  him  were  to  be  resorted 
to.  This,  however,  was  soon  abandoned;  satisfied, 
by  the  first  controversy  in  which  they  had  involved 
Iiim,  tnat  his  decision  and  firmness  were  such  as  to 


The  Escape. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  33 

leave  no  hope  of  effecting  anything  through  this 
channel. 

Frequent  expeditions  were  undertaken  from  Nash- 
ville about  this  time,  against  the  Indians,  in  most  of 
which  Jackson  took  part.  These  continued  until 
1794,  when  a  large  party,  among  whom  was  our 
hero,  attacked  and  destroyed  the  Indian  town  of 
Nickajack,  near  the  Tennessee  river. 

In  these  affairs,  General  Jackson,  by  his  courage 
and  gallantry,  had  so  distinguished  himself,  as  to 
have  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  "  Sharp  Knife"  from 
his  tawny  foemen.  He  had  also  gained  the  confi- 
dence of  the  hardy  hunters  whom  he  accompanied. 

When  Jackson  first  located  himself  in  the  town 
of  Nashville,  hotels  and  boarding-houses  were  to- 
tally unknown ;  the  stranger  or  traveller  finding 
himself  welcome  at  the  firesides  of  the  hospitable 
settlers,  who,  in  their  turn,  were  glad  of  the  addi- 
tional protection  thus  afforded  them  from  the  attacks 
of  the  savage  Indian. 

Jackson  and  his  friend,  the  late  Judge  Overton, 
became  boarders  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  Donelson,  a 
widow  lady,  who  had  emigrated  from  Virginia,  first 
to  Kentucky,  afterwards  to  Nashville.  Mrs.  Ro- 
bards,  her  daughter,  who  afterwards  became  the 
wife  of  General  Jackson,  was  then  living  in  the  fa« 

c 


34  L I F  E     O  F 

iuiiy  with  her  mother.  On  account  of  some  X 
treatment  which  she  had  received  at  the  hands  of 
her  husband,  Mrs.  Robards  had  followed  her  mother 
to  Tennessee.  A  reconciliation  had  taken  place 
between  Robards  and  his  wife,  but  had  been  shortly 
after  followed  by  a  fresh  outbreak ;  and  hearing 
that  Robards  threatened  to  carry  her  back  to  Ken- 
tucky, Mrs.  Robards,  with  the  advice  of  her  friends, 
determined  to  decend  the  river  as  far  as  Natchez, 
in  company  with  Colonel  Stark,  who  was  then  pre- 
paring for  the  voyage.  Stark  being  an  elderly  man, 
and  apprehensive  of  danger,  invited  Jackson  to  ac- 
company him.  Jackson  accepted  the  invitation* 
and  after  seeing  the  little  party  safely  to  their  jour- 
ney's end,  returned  to  Nashville. 

In  the  meantime,  Robards  applied  for  and  obtained 
a  divorce ;  upon  hearing  which,  Jackson  returned  to 
Natchez,  and  having  paid  his  addresses  to  the  lady 
in  question,  was  accepted.  In  the  fall  of  1791  they 
were  married,  and  returned  to  Nashville,  amid  the 
joyous  congratulations  of  her  relatives,  and  a  largo 
circle  of  mutual  friends. 


ANDREW     JACKSON. 


35 


CHAPTER  VI. 

IA.CKSON   BECOMES   A   SENATOR    IS    THE   U.    S.   CONGRESS. KB 

SIGNS. IS  APPOINTED  JUDGE  OF  THE  SUPREME  COURT 


FTER  his  marriage,  Jackson  applied 
himself  assiduously  to  his  profes- 
sion. But  the  war  which  he  had 
warred  against  the  debtors,  on  his 
ruling  in  Nashville,  had  created  many- 
bitter  enemies,  who  now  sought  every 
means  to  disgrace  and  annoy  him.  Personal 
quarrels  were  sought  with  him,  and  "  bullies," 
a  species  of  characters  who  were  at  this  time  found 
in  great  numbers  in  the  Western  settlements,  wern 
employed  to  attack  him. 

While  he  was  attending  a  court  in  Sumner  Court) 
one  of  these,  instigated  no  doubt  by  some  enemy  o\ 
Jackson,  approached  him  in  the  street,  and  rudeU 
assaulted  him.  Jackson  pushed  the  man  off' to  a  dis 
tance,  and  laying  hold  of  a  slab,  thrust  him  in  the 
oreast  so  forcibly  that  the  bully  was  brought  to  the 


36  LIFE     OF 

ground.  Recovering,  however,  he  again  prepare! 
"or  fight.  The  crowd  here  interfered  to  prevent 
further  conflict,  but  at  the  entreaty  of  Jackson  again 
stood  aside.  Poising  his  slab,  with  a  firm  step  and 
a  steady  eye,  Jackson  advanced  upon  his  anta- 
gonist, who,  at  his  approach,  dropped  his  weapon, 
jumped  the  fence  and  took  to  the  woods.  The  re- 
sult of  a  few  encounters  such  as  this,  freed  him  ever 
after  from  all  such  annoyances. 

In  1795,  the  people  of  Tennessee  took  measures 
for  forming  a  state  government,  with  a  view  to  ad- 
mission into  the  Union.  Jackson,  without  offering 
himself  as  a  candidate,  wras  elected  as  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Convention. 

In  June,  1796,  Tennessee  became  by  an  act  of 
Congress,  one  of  the  United  States,  and  on  the  same 
footing  with  the  others.  It  was  only  entitled  to  one 
representative  in  Congress,  and  General  Jackson 
was  elected  as  that  representative  without  having 
been  a  candidate.  He  took  his  seat  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  on  the  5th  day  of  December, 
1796.  Having  served  one  session  as  a  representa- 
tive, he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  and  took  his  seat  in  November,  1797.  Un- 
ambitious, however,  of  political  distinction,  he  re- 
signed in  one  year  after  his  election,  and  returned 
to  his  home  at  Nashville. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  37 

Soon  after,  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee  conferred 
upon  him  the  appointment  of  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  His  first  court  was  held  at  Jonesborough. 
An  incident  occurred  during  the  sitting  of  this  court, 
which  is  illustrative,  both  of  the  rudeness  of  the 
times,  and  of  the  firmness  of  Jackson. 

A  man  named  Russel  Bean  had  been  indicted  for 
cutting  off  the  ears  of  his  infant  child  in  a  drunken 
frolic.  Bean  was  in  the  court  yard ;  but,  from  his 
well-known  ferocity  of  character,  and  from  his 
threats  to  shoot  any  one  who  would  dare  to  take 
him,  the  sheriff  had  made  the  return  to  the  court, 
that "  Russel  Bean  will  not  be  taken."  "  He  must  be 
taken,"  said  the  judge,  "and  if  necessary  you  can 
summon  the  posse  comitatus."  The  mortified  sheriff 
retired,  and  waiting  till  the  court  adjourned  for 
dinner,  summoned  the  judges  themselves  as  part  of 
the  posse.  Conceiving  that  this  wras  a  ruse  on  the 
part  of  the  sheriff  to  avoid  a  dangerous  piece  of 
service,  Judge  Jackson  replied,  "  Yes  sir,  I  will 
attend  you,  and  see  that  you  do  your  duty." — 
Learning  that  Bean  was  armed,  Jackson  requested 
a  loaded  pistol,  which  was  instantly  put  into  his 
hand.  He  then  said  to  the  sheriff,  "Advance,  and 
arrest  him — I  wi.l  protect  you  from  harm  !"  Bean, 
armed  with  a  dirk  and  a  brace  of  pistols,  assumed 
an  attitude  of  defiance;   but  when  the  judge  drew 


38  LI FE    OF 

near  he  began  to  retreat.  "  Stop,  and  submit  to  the 
law  !"  cried  the  judge.  The  culprit  stopped,  threw 
down  his  pistols,  and  replied,  "  I  will  surrender  tu 
you,  sir,  but  to  no  one  else;"  and  so  saying  he  quietly 
permitted  himself  to  be  taken  prisoner.  This  con- 
duct of  Judge  Jackson  had  a  wholesome  effect  on 
the  turbulent  spirits  of  the  country. 

In  1804,  Judge  Jackson  sent  in  his  resignation 
to  the  Legislature,  which  was  accepted  by  that 
body,  in  July,  about  six  years  after  his  appointment. 
Unambitious  of  those  distinctions  and  honours, 
which  young  men  are  usually  proud  to  possess,  and 
finding  too  that  his  circumstances  and  condition  in 
life  were  not  such  as  to  permit  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  be  devoted  to  public  matters,  he  determined 
to  yield  them  into  other  hands,  and  to  devote  him- 
self to  agricultural  pursuits;  and  accordingly  settled 
himself  on  an  excellent  farm,  ten  miles  from  Nash- 
ville, on  the  Cumberland  river;  where,  for  several 
years,  he  enjoyed  all  the  comforts  of  domestic  and 
social  intercourse.  Abstracted  from  the  busy  scenes 
of  public  life,  pleased  with  retirement,  surrounded 
by  friends  whom  he  loved,  and  who  entertained  for 
him  the  highest  veneration  and  respect,  and  blessed 
with  an  amiable  and  affectionate  wife,  nothing  seemed 
wanting  to  the  completion  of  that  happiness  which 
he  so  iiuxiously  desired  vvhib  in  office 


Jackson  as  Judge, 


ANDREW     JACKSON. 


39 


CHAPTER  VII 

FROM  HIS  RESIGNATION  AS  JUDGE  TILL  18  12. 

REVIOUS  to  the  resignation  of  Jack- 
son as  Judge,  he  had  been  elected 
Major-General  of  the  Tennessee  mi- 
litia ;  which  office,  as  it  did  not  much 
interfere  with  his  domestic  pursuits, 
he  still  continued  to  hold. 

During  his  residence  upon  his  farm,  one 
of  his  favourite  employments  was  in  the 
raising  of  fine  cattle:  and  though  not  an  enthu- 
siastic  sportsman,  he  brought  out  his  favourite 
horses  upon  the  race-courses  of  the  day. 

An  unfortunate  quarrel,  about  a  bet  upon  one  of 
these  match-races,  occurred  between  him  and  a  Mr. 
Charles  Dickinson,  which  resulted  in  a  duel.  In  the 
duel  Dickinson,  who  had  borne  the  character  of  a 
crack-shot  and  duellist,  was  killed.  There  are  few, 
however,  except  the  immediate  friends  of  Dickinson, 
who  attach  any  blame  to  Jackson, — as,  under  the 


40  L  I  F  E    O  P 

provocation  which  he  had  received  from  the  former 
and  considering  the  state  of  society  as  it  existed  in 
Tennessee  at  this  time,  it  would  have  been  im- 
possible for  him  to  avoid  the  encounter.  It  is 
said  that  Dickinson,  previous  to  the  duel,  had  been 
making  bets  that  he  would,  kill  him,  and  boasting 
how  often  he  had  hit  the  general  chalked  out  upon 
a  tree.  He  did  in  fact  hit  General  Jackson  in  the 
duel,  but  fortunately  the  ball,  lodging  in  his  breast, 
did  not  penetrate.  Two  of  his  ribs  were  shattered 
near  the  breast-bone.  Jackson  had  gone  upon  the 
ground  with  the  full  conviction  that  his  life  was 
eagerly  sought,  and  with  the  expectation  of  losing 
it;  but  his  was  a  bosom  that  never  knew  fear. 

Shortly  after  this,  General  Jackson  entered  into 
partnership  with  a  merchant  in  Nashville — though 
he  took  no  active  part  in  the  business  himself.  After 
a  time,  however,  he  began  to  suspect  that  the  busi- 
ness was  not  going  on  right,  and  upon  demanding  a 
full  investigation,  he  found  that  his  partner,  in 
whom  he  had  placed  the  utmost  confidence,  had 
already  involved  him  for  many  thousand  dollars  of 
debts.  He  closed  the  business,  sold  the  fine  planta- 
tion upon  which  he  lived,  and  paying  off  his  debts 
with  the  proceeds  of  the  sale,  he  retired  into  a  log 
cabin,  to  begin  the  world  anew.     From  the  humble 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  41 

dwelling,  into  which  he  had  moved,  he  could  see  the 
fine  house  and  plantation  so  lately  his  own — ad- 
monishing him  of  the  danger  of  connection  with 
others  in  business,  and  of  the  contracting  of  debts. 
It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  became  com- 
fortable in  the  world.' 


42  LIFE    OF 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

I 

ADVENTURE    WITH    THE    INDIAN    ACENT. 


N  the  year  1811,  Jackson  had  occasion 
to  travel  to  Natchez  on  business.  The 
road  from  Nashville  to  the  former  place 
passed  through  the  Choctaw  and  Chick- 
asaw nations,  and  there  was  an  Indian  agent 
for  the  Choctaws  stationed  upon  it.  On  ar- 
riving at  this  station,  General  Jackson  found 
some  seven  or  eight  families  detained  here, 
as  well  as  two  members  of  the  Mississippi  Legisla- 
tive Council,  by  the  agent,  upon  the  plea  that  they 
had  no  passports.  They  were  remaining  there  until 
their  passports  could  reach  them,  one  of  their  num- 
ber having  gone  back  for  the  purpose  of  procuring 
them.  Some  of  the  persons  thus  prevented  from 
executing  their  journey,  were  purchasing  corn  from 
the  agent  to  feed  their  cattle,  at  a  very  high  price, 
and  had  been  employed  by  him  to  split  r&ils  at  a 
very  low  price. 


ANDREW     JACKSON,  43 

When  Jackson  understood  these  things,  lie  be- 
came very  angry,  and  reproached  the  two  members 
for  submitting  to  such  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the 
mercenary  agent.  The  agent  hearing  this,  inquired 
in  an  impertinent  manner  if  he  had  a  pass.  "  Yes, 
sir,"  said  Jackson ;  ?'  I  always  carry  my  passport 
with  me  when  I  travel :  I  am  a  free  American  citizen, 
and  that  is  a  passport  all  over  the  world."  "We 
shall  see,"  said  the  agent.  "Very  well,  we  shall 
see,"  was  the  reply  of  Jackson ;  and  calling  upon 
the  wagoners  to  gear  up  their  wagons,  and  shoot 
any  one  down  who  should  attempt  to  obstruct  them, 
he  led  the  whole  party  away. 

On  his  return,  however,  he  understood  that  the 
agent  had  collected  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  white  and  Indian,  to  stop  him,  unless  he*  pro- 
cured a  passport.  He  would  not,  though  advised 
by  his  friends,  procure  one,  believing  as  he  said,  that 
no  American  citizen  should  submit  to  the  insult  of 
carrying  a  pass  to  enable  him  to  travel  through  his 
own  country.  He  double  armed  himself,  however, 
prepared  for  any  emergency;  and,  on  nearing  the 
station  of  the  agent,  he  put  axes  and  other  arms 
into  the  hands  of  a  number  of  blacks,  whom  he  was 
carrying  from  Natchez  to  the  upper  country,  telling 
them  how  and  when  to  use  them.     As  had  been  re- 


44  LIFE    OF 

ported,  the  agent  had  collected  a  goodly  number  of 
men  to  stop  him.  Jackson  approached,  and  upon 
the  agent's  asking  him  whether  he  meant  to  stop 
and  show  his  passport,  Jackson  replied,  "That  de- 
pends on  circumstances ;  I  am  told  that  you  mean 
to  stop  me  by  force ;  whoever  attempts  such  a  thing 
will  not  have  long  to  live  !"  His  determined  manner 
had  such  an  effect,  that  the  agent  was  glad  to  let 
him  pass  on  quietly.  The  Indians,  whose  chiefs 
were  acquainted  with  Jackson,  "  Sharp  Knife,"  now 
approached  and  shook  hands  with  him ;  and  those 
bold  sons  of  the  forest  were  so  much  struck  with 
his  courage,  that  if  he  had  only  commanded  it,  they 
would  have  turned  round  and  scalped  the  agent  in 
his  stead.  He  afterwards  reported  the  conduct  of 
the  agent  to  government,  and  he  was  dismissed  from 
nis  agency. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  45 


CHAPTER  IX 

WAR  OP   1812. EXPEDITION  TO  NATCHEZ. 

IE  now  come  to  that  period  in  the 

life  of  General  Jackson,  when  his 

great    military    talents,    that    had 

yj^^f-^  hitherto  remained  unemployed,  and 

in   fact   unknown,  were  to  be  called   into 

action. 

The  government  of  the  United  States, 
after  patiently  submitting  to  many  insults 
and  injuries  from  Great  Britain,  declared  war 
against  that  country  in  the  month  of  June,  1812. 
Jackson  at  this  time,  happy  on  his  farm,  and  re- 
tired, as  he  apparently  thought,  for  ever,  from  all 
public  affairs — though  only  forty-five  years  of  age 
— was  again  roused  by  the  insults  offered  to  his 
country,  by  the  wrongs  inflicted  upon  her  citizens, 
and  by  the  recollection,  no  doubt,  of  the  death  of 
his  mother,  of  the  deith  of  his  brother  Robert,  of 


46  L  I  F  E     O  F 

the  cause  of  those  deaths ;  and,  if  he  could  have 
forgotten  the  horrid  account  of  the  injuries  inflicted 
upon  the  country  of  his  father  and  his  mother,  there 
was  that  scar  on  his  hand,  inflicted  by  a  British  offi- 
cer, who  had  aimed  a  blow  at  his  life  because  he 
had  refused  to  clean  the  dirt  off  his  boots ;  there 
was  that  scar  to  keep  his  virtuous  resentment  alive, 
even  if  he  could  have  forgotten  the  wrongs  of  Ire- 
land,  and  the  ruin  or  extermination  of  every  rela- 
tion in  the  world. 

In  answer  to  a  spirited  address  from  him,  2500 
volunteers  flocked  to  his  standard — prepared  to  fol- 
low wheresoever  he  might  see  fit  to  lead  them.  He 
received  orders  to  place  himself  at  their  head,  and 
to  descend  the  Mississippi,  for  the  defence  of  the 
lower  country,  which  was  then  supposed  to  be  in 
danger.  Accordingly,  on  the  10th  of  December, 
1812,  those  troops  rendezvoused  at  Nashville,  pre- 
pared to  advance  to  the  place  of  their  destination  ; 
and  although  the  weather  was  then  excessively  se- 
vere, and  the  ground  covered  with  snow,  no  troops 
could  have  displayed  greater  firmness. 

Having  procured  supplies,  and  made  the  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  an  active  campaign,  they 
proceeded,  the  7th  of  January,  1813,  on  their  jour- 
ney;   and   descending   the  Ohio   and   Mississippi 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  47 

through  cold  and  ice,  arrived  and  halted  at 
Natchez.  Here  Jackson  had  been  instructed  to 
remain  until  he  should  receive  further  orders.  Hav- 
ing chosen  a  healthful  site  for  the  encampment  of  his 
troops,  he  devoted  his  time,  with  the  utmost  indus- 
try, to  training  and  preparing  them  for  active  ser- 
vice. The  clouds  of  war,  however,  in  that  quarter, 
having  blown  over,  an  order  was  received  from  the 
secretary  of  war,  dated  5th  of  January,  1813,  di- 
recting him,  on  the  receipt  thereof,  to  dismiss  those 
under  his  command  from  service,  and  to  take  mea- 
sures for  delivering  over  every  article  of  public  pro- 
perty in  his  possession  to  Brigadier-general  Wilkin- 
son. When  this  order  reached  his  camp,  there 
were  one  hundred  and  fifty  on  the  sick  report,  fifty- 
six  of  whom  were  unable  to  raise  their  heads,  and 
almost  the  whole  of  them  destitute  of  the  means  of 
defraying  the  expenses  of  their  return.  The  con- 
sequence of  a  strict  compliance  with  the  secretary's 
order  inevitably  would  have  been,  that  many  of  the 
sick  must  have  perished  ;  while  most  of  the  others, 
from  their  destitute  condition,  would,  of  necessity, 
have  been  compelled  to  enlist  in  the  regular  army, 
under  General  Wilkinson. 

Jackson  was,  as  a  matter  of  course,  very  much 
astonished  at  the  reception  of  such  an  order,  tho 


48  L  I  F  E    O  F 

■consequence  of  obeying  which,  he  clearly  saw, 
would  be  the  death  of  many  of  the  brave  young 
men  whom  he  had  brought  with  him  from  Tennes- 
see, and  to  whom  he  had  given  his  promise,  before 
they  had  left  their  homes,  that  he  would  be  to  them 
as  a  father  and  the  guardian  of  their  welfare. 

He  saw,  moreover,  that  ihe  design  of  the  order 
had  been  a  concerted  thing,  between  the  secretary 
of  war,  Armstrong,  and  General  Wilkinson,  com- 
mandant of  the  United  States  regular  army  in  the 
south-western  department — who  by  this  means  ex- 
pected to  recruit  largely  from  among  these  young 
men,  who,  now,  unable  to  return  home,  would  be 
obliged  to  enter  the  ranks  of  the  regular  army. 
Moreover,  General  Wilkinson  was  jealous  of  Jack- 
son, whose  authority  as  major-general  was  equal  to 
his  own,  if  not  greater,  and  their  commands  wrere 
likely  to  interfere  with  each  other.  Under  these 
circumstances,  Jackson  determined  to  disobey  the 
orders  of  the  secretary. 

Having  made  known  his  resolution  to  the  field- 
officers  of  his  division,  it  met,  apparently,  their  ap- 
probation ;  but,  after  retiring  from  his  presence, 
they  assembled  late  at  night,  in  secret  caucus,  and 
proceeded  to  recommend  to  him  an  abandonmen* 
of  his  purpose,  and  an  immediate  discharge  of  his 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  49 

troops.  Great  as  was  the  astonishment  which  this 
measure  excited  in  the  General,  it  produced  a  still 
higher  sentiment  of  indignation.  In  reply,  he  urged 
the  duplicity  of  their  conduct,  and  reminded  them, 
that  although  to  those  who  possessed  funds  and 
health  such  a  course  could  produce  no  inconve- 
nience, yet  to  the  unfortunate  soldier,  who  was  alike 
destitute  of  both,  no  measure  could  be  more  calami- 
tous. He  concluded  by  telling  them  that  his  reso- 
lution, not  having  been  hastily  concluded  on,  nor 
founded  on  light  considerations,  was  unalterably 
fixed ;  and  that  immediate  preparations  must  be 
made  for  carrying  into  execution  the  determination 
he  had  formed. 

During  these  negotiations,  the  officers  of  General 
Wilkinson  had  arrived  in  the  camp,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  recruiting  from  the  volunteer  army.  As 
soon  as  Jackson  became  apprised  of  this,  he  gave 
orders,  that  any  officer  found  recruiting  from  among 
his  troops,  that  were  already  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  should  be  arrested  and  confined. 
The  quarter-master  had  been  ordered  to  provide  the 
means  for  transporting  the  sick  and  baggage,  and 
pretended  to  be  making  these  necessary  arrange- 
ments. To  keep  up  the  appearance  of  doing  so, 
and  the  better  to  deceive,  he  had  ordered  a  number 

p 


50  L  I  F  E     O  P 

of  wagons  into  the  camp.  The  next  morning,  how 
ever,  when  everything  was  about  to  be  packed  up, 
acting  doubtless  by  orders  from  Wilkinson,  and  in- 
tending to  produce  embarrassment,  the  quarter- 
master entered  the  encampment,  and  discharged  the 
whole.  He  was  grossly  mistaken  in  the  man  he 
had  to  deal  with,  and  had  now  played  his  tricks  too 
far  to  be  able  to  accomplish  the  object  which  he  had, 
no  doubt,  been  instructed  to  effect.  Disregarding 
their  dismissal,  so  evidently  designed  to  prevent  his 
marching  back  his  men,  General  Jackson  seized 
upon  these  wagons,  yet  within  his  lines,  and  com- 
pelled them  to  proceed  to  the  transportation  of  his 
sick.  It  deserves  to  be  recollected  that  this  quarter 
master,  so  soon  as  he  received  directions  for  fur- 
nishing transportation,  had  despatched  an  express 
to  General  Wilkinson ;  and  there  can  be  but  little 
doubt,  that  the  course  of  duplicity  he  afterwards 
pursued  was  a  concerted  plan,  between  him  and  that 
general,  to  defeat  the  design  of  Jackson,  compel  him 
to  abandon  the  course  he  had  adopted,  and  in  this 
way  draw  to  the  regular  army  many  of  the  soldiers, 
who,  from  necessity,  would  be  driven  to  enlist.  In 
this  attempt  they  were  fortunately  disappointed. 
Adhering  to  his  original  purpose,  he  successfully 
resisted  every  stratagem  of  Wilkinson  and  marched 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  t»  1 

the  whole  of  his  division  to  the  section  of  country 
whence  they  had  been  drawn,  and  dismissed  them 
from  service,  as  he  had  been  instructed. 

The  conduct  of  General  Jackson  in  this  affair, 
wrong  as  it  at  first  appeared,  was  in  the  end  ap- 
proved by  the  government.  Every  man,  whose 
heart  is  the  seat  of  justice,  will  applaud  him  for 
stubbornly  resisting  these  crafty  suggestions  of 
envy ;  and  it  should  be  told  here,  that  Armstrong, 
who  gave  the  order  for  this  act  of  oppression,  was 
disgraced  and  degraded,  not  many  months  after- 
ward, for  his  scandalous  neglect  to  prepare  for  the 
defence  of  the  city  of  Washington,  where  he  was 
residing;  and  that  Wilkinson,  who  was  appointed 
to  put  the  order  into  execution,  and  to  supplant 
Jackson,  was  sufficiently  disgraced,  in  less  than  two 
years  from  that  day,  on  the  confines  of  Canada. 


5? 


LIFE    OP 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE    INDIAN    CAMPAIGN 


HE  repose  of  General  Jackson  and 
his  volunteers,  was  not  of  long  dura- 
tion. After  his  return  from  Natchez, 
the  Indian  nations  scattered  over  the 
country,  now  called  Alabama  and  Mississippi, 
had  begun  to  harass  the  frontier  settlements ; 
and  instigated  by  the  celebrated  chief,  Tecum- 
seh,  as  well  as  secretly  encouraged  by  the 
British  government,  threatened  a  general  rising  ana 
massacre  of  the  whites  on  their  borders.  The 
Creeks,  residing  in  Alabama,  near  the  Coosa  and 
Tallapoosa  rivers,  were  the  most  hostile  of  all  these 
tribes. 

There  was  a  large  number  of  these  Indians,  par- 
ticularly the  old  men,  who  advocated  peace  and 
alliance  with  the  United  States  government;  but 
these  were,  in  the  end,  obliged  to  give  up,  many  of 
them  losing  their  lives  in  a  kind  of  civil  war  which 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  *       53 

ensued.  Through  a  system  of  false  prophets  whicn 
Tecumseh  had  succeeded  in  establishing,  these  de- 
luded savages  were  taught  to  believe  that  the  time 
had  come  when  the  white  race  were  to  be  extermi- 
nated. 

Fort  Mimms,  situated  in  the  Tensaw  settlement 
m  the  Mississippi  territory,  was  the  first  point  des- 
tined to  satiate  their  cruelty  and  vengeance.  It 
contained,  at  that  time,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  under  the  command  of  Major  Beasley,  besides 
a, considerable  number  of  women  and  children,  who 
had  betaken  themselves  to  it  for  security.  Having 
collected  a  supply  of  ammunition  from  the  Spaniards 
at  Pensacola,  and  assembled  their  warriors  to  the 
number  of  six  or  seven  hundred,  the  war  party, 
commanded  by  Weatherford,  a  distinguished  chief 
of  the  nation,  on  the  30th  of  August,  1813,  com- 
menced their  assault  on  the  fort ;  and  having  suc- 
ceeded in  carrying  it,  put  to  death  nearly  three  hun- 
dred persons,  including  women  and  children,  with 
the  most  savage  barbarity.  The  slaughter  was  in- 
discriminate ;  mercy  was  extended  to  none ;  and 
the  tomahawk,  at  the  same  stroke,  often  cleft  the 
mother  and  the  child.  But  seventeen  of  the  whole 
number  in  the  fort  escaped  to  bring  intelligence  of 
Ihe  dreadful  catastrophe.     This  monstrous  and  ua 


54  L  I  F  E     O  F 

provoked  outrage  no  sooner  reached  Tennessee  than 
the  whole  state  was  thrown  into  a  ferment,  and 
nothing  was  thought  or  spoken  of  but  retaliatory 
vengeance. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  detail  the  proceedings  of 
General  Jackson  after  the  receipt  of  this  disastrous 
news.  By  the  order  of  his  government,  he  imme- 
diately called  out  the  militia  and  volunteers  to  the 
number  of  2500,  and  on  the  10th  of  October  reached 
Huntsville,  on  his  line  of  march  towards  the  Creek 
country.  At  the  same  time,  an  equal  force  under 
General  Cocke  had  been  ordered  from  East  Ten- 
nessee; while  another  wras  despatched  from  Georgia 
under  Major  Floyd,  to  enter  the  Indian  country  on 
the  east;  and  a  regiment  of  United  States' soldiers, 
with  the  volunteers  of  Mississippi  under  General 
Claiborne*,  were  to  attack  the  hostile  nations  on  the 
west. 

In  consequence  of  the  failure  of  army  contractors 
to  supply  piovisions,  without  which  it  was  utterly 
impossible  to  proceed,  General  Jackson  was  detained 
for  nearly  a  month  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Tennessee  river,  without  being  able  to  penetrate  the 
hostile  territory,  and  strike  a  decisive  blow.  Gen- 
eral Cocke,  who  was  under  a  promise  to  furnish 
provisions,  as  well  as  under  orders  to  unite  with 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  55 

Jackson,  kept  aloof  from  motives  of  jealousy 
JacKson  had  established  his  head  quarters  on  the 
Coosa,  at  a  place  called  "Ten  Islands,"  where  he 
erected  a  fort  and  depot,  to  be  called  "Fort  Strother." 
Learning  now  that  a  considerable  body  of  the 
enemy  had  posted  themselves  at  Tallushatchee,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Coosa,  about  thirteen  miles 
distant,  General  Coffee  was  detached  with  nine 
hundred  men  (the  mounted  troops  having  been  pre- 
viously organized  into  a  brigade,  and  placed  under 
his  command)  to  attack  and  disperse  them.  With 
this  force  he  was  enabled,  through  the  direction  of 
an  Indian  pilot,  to  ford  the  Coosa  at  the  Fish-dams, 
about  four  miles  above  the  islands;  and  having  en- 
camped  beyond  it,  very  early  the  next  morning  pro- 
ceeded to  the  execution  of  his  order.  Having  ar- 
rived within  a  mile  and  a  half,  he  formed  his  detach- 
ment into  two  divisions,  and  directed  them  to  march 
so  as  to  encircle  the  town,  by  uniting  their  fronts 
beyond  it.  The  enemy,  hearing  of  his  approach, 
began  to  prepare  for  action,  which  was  announced 
by  the  beating  of  drums,  mingled  with  their  savage 
yells  and  war-whoops.  An  hour  after  sunrise,  the 
action  was  commenced  by  Captain  Hammond's  and 
Lieutenant  Patterson's  companies  of  spies,  who  nad 
gone  within  the  circle  of  alignement  for  the  purpose 


56  LI  F  E     O  F 

of  drawing  the  Indians  from  their  buildings.  No 
sooner  had  these  companies  exhibited  their  front  in 
view  of  the  town,  and  given  a  few  scattering  shot, 
than  the  enemy  formed,  and  made  a  violent  charge. 
Being  compelled  to  give  way,  the  advance-guard 
were  pursued  until  they  reached  the  main  body  of 
the  army,  which  immediately  opened  a  general  fire, 
and  charged  in  their  turn.  The  Indians  retreated, 
firing,  until  they  got  around  and  in  their  buildings, 
where  an  obstinate  conflict  ensued,  and  where  those 
who  maintained  their  ground,  persisted  in  fighting 
as  long  as  they  could  stand  or  sit,  without  mani- 
festing fear  or  soliciting  quarter.  Their  loss  was  a 
hundred  and  eighty-six  killed ;  among  whom  were, 
unfortunately,  and  through  accident,  a  few  women 
and  children.  Eighty-four  women  and  children 
were  taken  prisoners,  towards  whom  the  utmost 
humanity  was  shown.  Of  the  Americans,  five  were 
killed,  and  forty-one  wounded.  Two  were  killed 
with  arrows,  which  on  this  occasion  formed  a  prin- 
cipal part  of  the  arms  of  the  Indians;  each  one 
having  a  bow  and  quiver,  which  he  used  after  the 
first  fire  of  his  gun,  until  an  opportunity  occurred 
for  reloading. 

Having  buried   his   dead,  and    provided  for  his 
wounded,  General  Coffee,  late  in  the  evening  of  the 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  57 

same  day  united  with  the  main  army,  bringing' with 
him  about  forty  prisoners ;  of  the  residue,  a  part 
were  too  badly  wounded  to  be  removed,  and  were, 
therefore,  left  with  a  sufficient  number  to  take  cart, 
of  them.  Those  whom  he  brought  in,  received 
every  comfort  and  assistance  their  situation  de- 
manded, and  for  safety  were  immediately  sent  into 
the  settlements. 

From  the  manner  in  which  the  enemy  fought,  the 
killing  and  wounding  others  than  their  warriors 
could  not  be  avoided.  On  their  retreat  to  their 
village,  after  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  they 
resorted  to  their  block-houses  and  strong  loo;  dwell- 
ings,  whence  they  kept  up  resistance,  and  for  a  long 
time  protracted  the  fight.  Thus  mingled  with  their 
women  and  children  it  was  impossible  to  prevent 
numbers  of  the  latter  from  falling  a  sacrifice,  ana 
many  were  injured,  though  every  precaution  was 
taken  to  prevent  it.  In  fact,  many  of  the  women 
united  with  their  warriors,  and  contended  in  the 
battle  with  a  fearless  and  heroic  bravery  worthy  of 
the  Helvetian  matrons. 

A  pleasing  incident  in  the  life  of  Genera]  Jackson, 
is  recorded  in  connection  with  the  destruction  of 
Tullushatchee.  Among  the  slain  was  found  an 
Indian  woman  with  an  infant,  a  boy,  unhurt,  sucking 


58  LIFE     OP 

her  lifeless  breast.  The  little  orphan  was  carried  to 
camp  along  with  other  prisoners,  and  General  Jack- 
son tried  to  hire  some  of  the  captive  Indian  women 
to  take  care  of  him.  They  obstinately  refused,  say- 
ing: "All  his  people  dead — kill  him  too."  There 
was  a  little  sugar  still  left  in  the  camp,  and  with  this 
the  babe  was  nourished,  until  he  could  be  sent  to  a 
nurse  at  Huntsville,  which  was  afterwards  done. 
Upon  General  Jackson's  return  home,  he  took  the 
babe  with  him,  and  with  the  cordial  aid  of  Mrs. 
Jackson,  raised  him  as  tenderly  as  if  he  had  been 
his  own  son.  He  named  the  boy  Lincoyer,  and 
gave  him  an  education  equal  to  that  of  the  white 
boys  of  the  most  respectable  families.  Lincoyer 
grew  up  a  strong  and  handsome  young  man,  yet  his 
tastes  were  always  Indian.  He  delighted  in  rambling 
away,  into  the  forest,  and  ornamenting  himself  with 
gay  and  brilliant  feathers,  and  when  the  chiefs  of 
the  Creek  nation  would  visit  the  Hermitage,  (the 
residence  of  General  Jackson,)  which  they  often  did 
after  the  war,  he  never  saw  them  depart  without 
sighing  to  return  to  the  wild  forest  land  of  his 
nativity. 

At  length  Genera]  Jackson  carried  him  to  Nash- 
ville and  desired  him  to  select  a  trade.  He  waa 
best  pleased  with  the  saddlers'  business,  to  which  he 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  59 

wns  bound  an  apprentice.  He  continued  to  work 
for  some  time  at  Iris  trade,  paying  regular  visits  to 
the  Hermitage  on  Saturdays,  and  returning  to  his 
duty  on  Monday  morning.  His  health,  however, 
bejran  to  decline,  and  General  Jackson  took  him 
home  to  his  own  house,  where  he  was  most  tenderly 
waited  on,  both  by  himself  and  Mrs.  Jackson,  but  in 
vain.  He  sank  rapidly  into  a  consumption,  which 
ended  his  short  career  ere  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  manhood.  He  was  mourned  by  the  General  and 
Mrs.  Jackson  as  though  they  had  lost  a  favourite 
son,  and  was  ever  after  spoken  of  by  them  with 
parental  affection. 


60  life    or 


CHAPTER  XI. 

BATTLE    OF   TALLADEGA. 

S  yet  no  certain  intelligence  was  ro 
ceived  of  any  collection  of  the  enemy. 
The  army  was  busily  engaged  in  for- 
tifying and  strengthening  the  site  fixed 
on  for  a  depot,  to  which  the  name  of  Fort 
Strother  had  been  given.  Late,  however,  on 
the  evening  of  the  7th  November,  a  runner 
arrived  from  Talladega,  a  fort  of  the  friendly 
Indians,  distant  about  thirty  miles  below,  with  in- 
formation that  the  enemy  had  that  morning  en 
camped  before  it  in  great  numbers,  and  would  cer- 
tainly destroy  it  unless  immediate  assistance  could 
be  afforded.  Jackson,  confiding  in  the  statement, 
determined  to  lose  no  time  in  extending  the  relief 
which  was  solicited. 

Accordingly  he  issued  marching  orders,  and 
crossed  the  Coosa  river,  at  midnight  on  the  7th 
of  November,  with  his  whole  disposable  force,  con- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  61 

sisting  of  1200  infantry  and  800  cavalry.  Next 
evening  his  army  lay  within  six  miles  of  Talladega. 
Next  morning  he  marched  against  the  enemy,  who 
were  encamped  at  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  fort  which  they  were  besieging. 
About  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  advance  having 
arrived  within  eighty  yards  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
concealed  in  a  thick  shrubbery  that  covered  the 
margin  of  a  small  rivulet,  received  a  heavy  fire, 
which  they  instantly  returned  with  much  spirit. 
Falling  in  with  the  enemy,  agreeably  to  their  in- 
structions, they  retired  towards  the  centre,  but  not 
before  they  had  dislodged  them  from  their  position. 
The  Indians,  now  screaming  and  yelling  hideously, 
rushed  forward  in  the  direction  of  General  Roberts 
brigade,  a  few  companies  of  which,  alarmed  by  their 
numbers  and  yells,  gave  way  at  the  first  fire.  Jack- 
son, to  fill  the  chasm  which  was  thus  created,  di- 
rected the  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Bradley 
to  be  moved  up,  which,  from  some  unaccountable 
cause,  had  failed  to  advance  in  a  line  with  the 
others,  and  now  occupied  a  position  in  rear  of  the 
centre:  Bradley,  however,  to  whom  this  order  was 
given  by  one  of  the  staff,  omitted  to  execute  it  in 
time,  alleging  he  was  determined  to  remain  on  the 
eminence  which   he  then  possessed  until  he  should 


62  LIFE     OF 

be  approached  and  attacked  by  the  enemy.  Owing 
to  this  failure  in  the  volunteer  regiment,  it  became 
necessary  to  dismount  the  reserve,  which,  with  great 
firmness,  met  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
rapidly  moving  in  this  direction.  The  retreating 
militia,  somewhat,  mortified  at  seeing  their  places  so 
promptly  supplied,  rallied,  and,  recovering  their  for- 
mer position  in  the  line,  aided  in  checking  the  ad- 
vance of  the  savages.  The  action  now  became 
general  along  the  line,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  the 
Indians  were  seen  flying  in  every  direction.  On  the 
left  they  were  met  and  repulsed  by  the  mounted 
riflemen ;  but  on  the  right,  owing  to  the  halt  of 
Bradley's  regiment,  which  was  intended  to  occupy 
the  extreme  right,  and  to  the  circumstance  of  Colonel 
Allcorn,  who  commanded  one  of  the  wings  of  the 
cavalry,  having  taken  too  large  a  circuit,  a  consid- 
erable space  was  left  between  the  infantry  and  the 
cavalry,  through  which  numbers  escaped.  The 
fight  was  maintained  with  great  spirit  and  effect  on 
both  sides,  as  well  before  as  after  the  retreat  com- 
menced ;  nor  did  the  pursuit  and  slaughter  terminate 
until  the  mountains  were  reached,  at  the  distance 
of  three  miles. 

In   this  battle,  the  force  of  the  enemy  was  one 
thousand  and  eighty,  of  whom  two  hundred   and 


ANDREW    JACKSON.  63 

ninety-uine  were  left  dead  on  the  ground  ;  and  it  is 
believed  that  many  were  killed  in  the  flight,  who 
were  not  found  when  the  estimate  was  made.  Prob- 
ably few  escaped  unhurt.  Their  loss  on  this  occa- 
sion, as  stated  since  by  themselves,  was  not  less 
than  six  hundred:  that  of  the  Americans  was  fifteen 
killed  and  eighty  wounded,  several  of  whom  after- 
ward died.  Jackson,  after  collecting  his  dead  and 
wounded,  advanced  his  army  beyond  the  fort,  and 
encamped  for  the  night.  The  Indians  who  had 
been  for  several  days  shut  up  by  the  besiegers,  thus 
fortunately  liberated  from  the  most  dreadful  appre- 
hensions and  severest  privations,  having  for  some 
time  been  entirely  without  water,  received  the  army 
with  all  the  demonstrations  of  gratitude  that  savages 
could  give.  Their  manifestations  of  joy  for  their 
deliverance  presented  an  interesting  and  affecting 
spectacle.  Their  fears  had  been  already  greatly 
excited,  for  it  was  the  very  day  when  they  were  to 
have  been  assaulted,  and  when  every  soul  within  the 
fort  must  have  perished. 


64 


LIFE  OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FAMINE    AND    DESERTION    OF    HIS    ARMY.- -ANECDOTE    OF 
THE    ACORNS. 

N  account  of  the  want  of  provisions, 
Jackson  was  unable  to  follow  up  the 
successful  blow  struck  at  Talladega, 
and  was  compelled  to  retreat,  to  Fort 
Strother.     But  on  his  arrival  here,  he  found 
that  through  the  stupid  mismanagement,  and 
|te      perhaps  jealousy  of  General  Cocke,  no  supplies 
had  arrived  even  here,  and  the  soldiers  now 
began  to  show  signs  of  discontent. 

A  few  dozen  biscuits,  which  remained  on  his  re- 
turn, were  given  to  hungry  applicants,  without  beinj* 
tasted  by  himself  or  family,  who  were  probably  not 
less  hungry  than  those  who  were  thus  relieved.  A 
scanty  supply  of  indifferent  beef,  taken  from  the 
enemy  or  purchased  of  the  Cherokees,  was  now  the 
only  support  afforded.  Thus  left  destitute,  Jackson, 
with  the  u  most  cheerfulness  of  temper,  repaired  to 


Jackson  and  the  Acorns. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  65 

ihe  bullock-pen,  and  of  the  offal  there  thrown  away, 
provided  for  himself  and  staff  what  he  was  pleased 
to  call,  and  seemed  really  to  think,  a  very  comfort- 
able repast.  Tripes,  however,  hastily  provided  in  a 
camp,  without  bread  or  seasoning,  Can  only  be  pala- 
table to  an  appetite  very  highly  whetted;  yet  this  con- 
stituted for  several  days  the  only  diet  at  head-quar- 
ters, during  which  time  the  General  seemed  entirely 
satisfied  with  his  fare.  Neither  this  nor  the  liberal 
donations  by  which  he  disfurnished  himself  to  relieve 
the  suffering  soldier,  deserves  to  be  ascribed  to  osten 
tation  or  design  :  the  one  flowed  from  benevolence, 
the  other  from  necessity,  and  a  desire  to  place  be- 
fore his  men  an  example  of  patience  and  suffering 
which  he  felt  might  be  necessary,  and  hoped  might 
be  serviceable.  Of  these  two  imputations  no  human 
being,  invested  with  rank  and  power,  was  ever  more 
deservedly  free.  Charity  in  himvwas  a  warm  and 
active  propensity  of  the  heart,  urging  him,  by  an  in- 
stantaneous impulse,  to  relieve  the  wants  of  the 
distressed,  without  regarding,  or  even  thinking  of, 
the  consequences.  Many  of  those  to  whom  it  was 
extended  had  no  conception  of  the  source  that  sup- 
plied them,  and  believed  the  comforts  they  received 
were,  indeed,  drawn  from  stores  piovided  for  the 
oospital  department. 

E 


C6  L  I  F  E    O  F 

On  this  campaign,  a  soldier  one  morning,  with  a 
wo-begone  countenance,  approached  the  General, 
stating  that  he  was  nearly  starved,  that  he  had 
nothing  to  eat,  and  could  not  imagine  what  he 
should  do.  He  was  the  more  encouraged  to  com- 
plain, from  perceiving  that  the  General,  who  had 
seated  himself  at  the  root  of  a  tree,  waiting  the 
coming  up  of  the  rear  of  the  army,  was  busily 
engaged  in  eating  something.  The  poor  fellow  was 
impressed  with  the  belief,  from  what  he  sa-w,  that 
want  only  attached  to  the  soldiers;  and  that  the 
officers,  particularly  the  General,  were  liberally  and 
well  supplied.  He  accordingly  approached  him  with 
great  confidence  of  being  relieved ;  Jackson  told 
him  that  it  had  always  been  a  rule  with  him  never 
to  turn  away  a  hungry  man  when  it  was  in  his 
power  to  relieve  him.  "  I  will  most  cheerfully,"  said 
he,  "  divide  with  you  what  I  have ;"  and  putting  his 
hand  to  his  pocket,  drew  forth  a  few  acorns,  from 
which  he  had  been  feasting,  adding,  it  was  the  bcsl 
and  only  fare  he  had.  The  soldier  seemed  much 
surprised,  and  forthwith  circulated  among  his  com 
rades  that  their  General  was  actually  subsisting 
upon  acorns,  and  that  they  ought  hence  no  more  to 
complain.  From  this  circumstance  was  derived  the 
story  heretofore  published  to  the  world,  that  Jackson, 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  61 

about  the  period  of  his  greatest  suffering,  and  with 
a  view  to  inspirit  them,  had  invited  his  officers  to 
dine  with  him,  and  presented  for  their  repast  water 
and  a  tray  of  acorns. 

Notwithstanding  the  firmness  and  patriotism  of 
their  genera],  the  army,  consisting  entirely  of  volun- 
teers and  militia,  now  unable  for  want  of  provisions 
to  penetrate  the  hostile  territory,  became  anxious  to 
return  to  their  homes,  and  from  a  misunderstanding 
with  regard  to  the  term  of  service  for  which  they 
had  been  enlisted,  they  believed  that  the  time  had 
expired.  This  was  not  so ;  and  Jackson,  deeply 
anxious  to  finish  successfully  the  campaign,  resolved 
to  prevent  such  a  disgraceful  abandonment.  Several 
times  did  the  troops  mutiny,  and  as  often  were  they 
brought  back  to  their  duty  by  the  talents  and 
bravery  of  their  general.  One  of  these  scenes  may 
be  presented  as  a  specimen  of  the  iron  firmness  of 
our  hero. 

He  had  promised  his  army  that  unless  supplies 
arrived  on  a  certain  day,  he  would  grant  their  re- 
quest to  return.  The  supplies  did  not  arrive  until 
they  had  commenced  their  march  homeward,  when 
they  were  met  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  beeves. 
This,  of  course,  relieved  Jackson  from  his  promise, 
but  so  great  was  the  aversion  of  his  men  to  return 


68  L  I  F  E     O  F 

*,o  the  camp,  that  they  preferred  breaking  their  word 
of  honour.  One  company  was  already  moving  off 
in  a  direction  towards  home.  They  had  proceeded 
some  distance  before  information  of  their  departure 
was  had  by  Jackson.  Irritated  at  their  conduct,  in 
attempting  to  violate  the  promise  they  had  given, 
and  knowing  that  the  success  of  future  operations 
depended  on  the  result,  the  General  pursued,  until 
he  came  near  a  part  of  his  staff  and  a  few  soldiers, 
who,  with  General  Coffee,  had  halted  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  ahead.  He  ordered  them  to  form  imme- 
diately across  the  road,  and  to  fire  on  the  mutineers 
if  they  attempted  to  proceed.  Snatching  up  their 
arms,  these  faithful  adherents  presented  a  front 
which  threw  the  deserters  into  affright,  and  caused 
them  to  retreat  precipitately  to  the  main  body. 
Here  it  was  hoped  the  matter  would  end,  and  that 
no  further  opposition  would  be  made  to  returning. 
This  expectation  was  not  realized;  a  mutinous 
temper  began  presently  to  display  itself  throughout 
the  whole  brigade.  Jackson,  having  left  his  aid-de- 
camp, Major  Reid,  engaged  in  making  up  some 
despatches,  had  gone  out  alone  among  his  troops, 
who  were  at  some  distance;  on  his  arrival  he  found 
a  much  more  extensive  mutiny  than  that  which  had 
just  been  quelled.     Almost  the  whole  brigade  had 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  69 

put  itself  into  an  attitude  for  moving  forcibly  off.  A 
crisis  had  arrived ;  and,  feeling  its  importance,  he 
determined  to  take  no  middle  ground,  but  to  triumph 
or  perish.  He  was  still  without  the  use  of  his  Left 
arm,  but,  seizing  a  musket,  and  resting  it  on  the 
neck  of  his  horse,  he  threw  himself  in  front  of  the 
column,  and  threatened  to  shoot  the  first  man  who 
should  attempt  to  advance.  In  this  situation  he  was 
found  by  Major  Reid  and  General  Coffee;  who, 
fearing,  from  the  length  of  his  absence,  that  some 
disturbance  had  arisen,  hastened  where  he  was,  and 
placing  themselves  by  his  side,  awaited  the  result  in 
anxious  expectation.  For  many  minutes  the  column 
preserved  a  sullen,  yet  hesitating  attitude,  fearing  to 
proceed  in  their  purpose,  and  disliking  to  abandon 
it.  In  the  mean  time,  those  who  remained  faithful 
to  their  duty,  amounting  to  about  two  companies, 
were  collected  and  formed  at  a  short  distance  in  ad- 
vance of  the  troops  and  in  rear  of  the  General,  with 
positive  directions  to  imitate  his  example  in  firing  if 
they  attempted  to  proceed.  At  length,  finding  n  > 
one  bold  enough  to  advance,  and  overtaken  bv  those 
fears  which  in  the  hour  of  peril  always  beset  persona 
engaged  in  what  they  know  to  be  a  bad  cause,  they 
abandoned  their  purpose,  and  turning  quietly  round, 
agreed  to  return  to  their  posts. 


70  L  I  F  E     O  F 

Notwithstanding  these  efforts  on  the  part  of  the 
General  to  detain  them,  the  mutiny  was  not  quelled., 
and  they  all  looked  forward  to  the  10th  of  December 
as  the  day  on  which  they  would  be  discharged.  It 
will  be  recollected,  that  upon  this  day,  twelve 
months  ago,  they  had  been  enlisted  to  proceed  to 
New  Orleans,  and  as  they  had  entered  for  a  service 
of  twelve  months,  they  expected  to  be  discharged  at 
the  end  of  that  time,  although  they  had  not  actually 
seen  twelve  months'  service,  having  been  discharged 
after  their  return  from  New  Orleans.  The  volun- 
teers, through  several  of  their  officers,  were  pressing 
on  the  consideration  of  the  General  the  expiration 
of  their  service,  and  claiming  to  be  discharged  on 
the  10th  of  the  month.  From  the  colonel  who 
commanded  the  second  regiment  he  received  a  letter, 
dated  the  4th  of  December,  1813,  in  which  was 
attempted  to  be  detailed  their  whole  ground  of  com- 
plaint. He  began  by  stating,  that  painful  as  it  was 
he  nevertheless  felt  himself  bound  to  disclose  an  im- 
portant and  unpleasant  truth:  that,  on  the  10th,  the 
service  would  be  deprived  of  the  regiment  he  com- 
manded. He  seemed  to  deplore,  with  great  sensi- 
bility, the  scene  that  would  be  exhibited  on  that  day, 
should  opposition  be  made  to  their  departure ;  and 
still    more    sensibly,  the   consequences   that  would 


ANDREW      JACKSON.  71 

result  from  a  disorderly  abandonment  of  the  camp 
He  stated  they  had  all  considered  themselves  finally 
discharged  on  the  20th  of  April,  1813,  and  never 
knew  to  the  contrary  until  they  saw  his  order  of  the 
24th  of  September,  1813,  requiring  them  to  ren- 
dezvous at  Fayetteville  on  the  4th  of  October,  1813  ; 
for  the  first  time,  they  then  learned  that  they  owed 
further  services,  their  discharge  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding.  "Thus  situated,  there  was  con- 
siderable opposition  to  the  order ;  on  which  the 
officers  generally,  as  I  am  advised,  and  I  know 
myself  in  particular,  gave  it  as  an  unequivocal 
opinion  that  their  term  of  service  would  terminate 
on  the  10th  of  December,  1813. 

"  They  therefore  look  to  their  general,  who  haa 
their  confidence,  for  an  honourable  discharge  on 
that  day ;  and  that,  in  every  respect,  he  will  see  that 
justice  be  done  them.  They  regret  that  their  par- 
ticular situations  and  circumstances  require  them  to 
leave  their  general  at  a  time  when  their  services  are 
important  to  the  common  cause.  It  would  be  de- 
sirable," he  continued,  "  that  those  men  who  have 
served  with  honour  should  be  honourably  discharged, 
and  that  they  should  return  to  their  families  and 
friends  without  even  the  semblance  of  disgrace, 
with  their  general  they  leave  it  to  place  them  in  thai 


72  L  I  F  E     OF 

situation.  They  have  received  him  as  an  affectionate 
father,  while  they  have  honoured,  revered,  and 
obeyed  him ;  but,  having  devoted  a  considerable 
portion  of  their  time  to  the  service  of  their  country, 
by  which  their  domestic  concerns  are  greatly  de 
ranged,  they  wish  to  return,  and  attend  to  their  own 
a  flairs." 

To  this  letter  General  Jackson  returned  a  reply, 
which  for  firmness  of  resolution,  and  patriotic  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  to  the  cause 
of  right,  never  was  surpassed  by  the  address  of  a 
great  commander  to  a  blind  and  mutinous  army. 
He  declared  his  determination  to  prevent  their  return 
at  the  hazard  of  his  own  life,  and  called  upon  God 
to  witness  that  the  scenes  of  blood  which  might  be 
exhibited  upon  that  day  should  not  be  laid  to  his 
charge.  His  address  concludes  with  the  following 
remarkable  words: 

"  I  cannot,  must  not,  believe  that  the  '  Volunteers 
of  Tennessee,'  a  name  ever  dear  to  fame,  will  dis- 
grace themselves,  and  a  country  which  they  have 
honoured,  by  abandoning  her  standard,  as  mutineers 
and  deserters;  but  should  I  be  disappointed  and 
compelled  to  resign  this  pleasing  hope,  one  thing  I 
will  not  resign — m,y  duty.  Mutiny  and  sedition,  as 
long  as  I  possess  the  power  of  quelling  I  hem,  shall 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  73 

be  put  down  ;  and  even  when  left  destitute  of  this,  1 
will  still  be  found,  in  the  last  extremity,  endeavouring 
to  discharge  the  duty  which  I  owe  to  my  country 
and  myself." 

To  the  platoon  officers,  who  addressed  him  on 
the  same  subject,  he  replied  with  nearly  the  same 
spirited  feeling ;  but  discontent  was  too  deeply 
fastened,  and  by  designing  men  had  been  too  artfully 
fomented,  to  be  removed  by  anything  like  argument 
or  entreaty.  At  length,  on  the  evening  of  the  9th 
of  December,  1813,  General  Hall  hastened  to  the 
tent  of  Jackson,  with  information  that  his  whole 
brigade  was  in  a  state  of  mutiny,  and  making  prepa- 
rations to  move  forcibly  off.  This  was  a  measure 
which  every  consideration  of  policy,  duty  and  honour 
required  Jackson  to  oppose ;  and  to  this  purpose  he 
instantly  applied  all  the  means  he  possessed.  He 
immediately  issued  the  following  general  order : — 
"  The  commanding  general  being  informed  that  an 
actual  mutiny  exists  in  his  camp,  all  officers  and 
soldiers  are  commanded  to  put  it  down.  The 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  first  brigade  will,  without 
delay,  parade  on  the  west  side  of  the  fort,  and  await 
further  orders."  The  artillery  company,  with  two 
small  field-pieces,  being  posted  in  the  front  and 
rear,  and  the  militia,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 


74: 


LIFE     OF 


Wynne,  on  the  eminences,  in  advance,  were  ordered 
to  prevent  any  forcible  departure  of  the  volunteers. 
The  General  rode  along  the  line,  which  had  been 
previously  formed  agreeably  to  his  orders,  and 
addressed  them,  by  companies,  in  a  strain  of  impas- 
sioned eloquence.  He  feelingly  expatiated  on  their 
former  good  conduct,  and  the  esteem  and  applause 
it  had  secured  them ;  and  pointed  to  the  disgrace 
which  they  must  heap  upon  themselves,  their  fam- 
ilies, and  country,  by  persisting,  even  if  they  could 
succeed,  in  their  present  mutiny.  He  told  them, 
however,  they  should  not  succeed,  but  by  passing 
over  his  body  ;  that  even  in  opposing  their  mulinous 
spirit,  he  should  perish  honourably — by  perishing  at 
his  post,  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  "Rein- 
forcements," he  continued,  "  are  preparing  to  hasten 
to  my  assistance  j  it  cannot  be  long  before  they  will 
arrive.  I  am,  too,  in  daily  expectation  of  receiving 
information  whether  you  may  be  discharged  or  not 
— until  then,  you  must  not  and  shall  not  retire.  J 
have  done  with  entreaty, — it  has  been  used  long 
enough.  I  will  attempt  it  no  more.  You  must  now 
determine  whether  you  will  go  or  peaceably  remain  ; 
if  you  still  persist  in  your  determination  to  move 
forcibly  off,  the  point  between  us  shall  soon  be  de- 
cided."    At  first  they  hesitated:  he  demanded  an 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  75 

explicit  and  positive  answer.  They  still  hesitated, 
and  he  commanded  the  artillerists  to  prepare  the 
match  ;  he  himself  remaining  in  front  of  the  volun- 
teers, and  within  the  line  of  fire,  which  he  intended 
soon  to  order.  Alarmed  at  his  apparent  determina- 
tion, and  dreading  the  consequences  involved  in  such 
a  contest, "  Let  us  return,"  was  presently  lisped  along 
the  line,  and  soon  after  determined  upon,  The 
officers  now  came  forward  and  pledged  themselves 
for  their  men,  who  either  nodded  assent  or  openly 
expressed  a  willingness  to  retire  to  their  quarters 
and  remain  without  further  tumult,  until  information 
were  had,  or  the  expected  aid  should  arrive.  Thus 
passed  away  a  moment  of  the  greatest  peril,  and 
pregnant  with  important  consequences. 

This  matchless  and  ever  memorable  scene,  the 
reader  will  observe,  took  place  on  the  10th  of 
December,  1813  ;  the  volunteers  having  formed  their 
first  rendezvous,  as  he  will  recollect,  on  the  10th  of 
December,  1812.  One  year  had  certainly  expired; 
but  there  had  not  been  a  year's  service;  for  they 
had  not  been  in  service  from  the  1st  of  May  to  the 
10th  of  October,  1813;  so  that  there  remained  five 
months  of  the  year's  service  to  come.  The  General 
was  right  in  his  construction  of  the  bargain  ;  but, 
besides  this,  to  have  forsaken  the  campaign  in  sut  ll 


76  L  I  F  E     O  F 

a  manner  would  have  been  ruinous  in  the  extreme. 
The  savage  enemy,  not  yet  subdued,  but  exasperated 
to  the  last  degree,  would  have  assailed  the  frontier 
settlements  and  deluged  them  in  blood. 

Notwithstanding  all  General  Jackson's  firmness, 
however,  the  want  of  supplies  and  the  actual  need 
of  his  army,  compelled  him  reluctantly  to  allow  them 
to  return  home,  remaining,  himself,  with  about  100 
faithful  soldiers,  in  the  garrison  of  Fort  Strotheii 
there  to  await  new  reinforcements. 


ANDRE  W   J A  C  K  S  O  N 


/  I 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

BATTLES   OF    EMUCKFAW    AND   ENOTOCHOPCO. 

BOUT  the  middle  of  January,  800 
new  recruits  reached  Jackson's  camp 
at  Fort  Strother.  With  these  it 
would  have  been  madness  to  have 
penetrated  the  Creek  country,  but  as  Jackson 
rightly  conjectured  that  Major  Floyd  (who, 
^  it  will  be  recollected,  by  the  plan  of  the  cam- 
'  paign,  had  entered  the  Indian  country  from 
Georgia,)  might  be  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy, 
now  that  he  had  failed  to  co-operate  with  the  Ten- 
nessee army,  he  determined  to  make  with  his  800 
men  a  diversion  in  his  favour. 

Hearing,  from  authentic  sources,  that  a  large 
force  of  the  "  red-sticks,"  or  hostile  Indians,  were 
collected  on  the  Emuckfaw  Creek,  in  a  bend  of  the 
Tallapoosa  River,  he  thither  directed  his  march,  and 
on  the  evening  of  the  21st  of  January  he  encamped 


78  LIFE    OF 

within  a  short  distance  of  the  enemy.  A  friendly 
Indian  spy,  who  had  reconnoitred  the  enemy's  camp, 
brought  in  word  that  the  Indians  were  removing 
their  women  and  children  ;  a  sure  sign  that  they 
meditated  an  attack.  It  fell  out  as  he  had  antici- 
pated. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  22d,  before  day,  a 
brisk  firing  was  heard  upon  the  right,  and  immedi- 
ately the  engagement  became  general.  The  enemy 
were  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  many  of  their  best 
warrriors ;  but  the  evident  strength  which  they  had 
exhibited,  and  the  fact  that  they  were  still  continuing 
to  receive  fresh  reinforcements,  determined  General 
Jackson  to  march  back  to  Fort  Strother.  He  had 
now  accomplished  his  object,  which  was  to  create  a 
diversion  in  favour  of  Floyd  and  the  Georgian 
army;  and,  as  it  became  known  afterwards,  the 
battle  of  Emuckfaw  was  probably  the  means  of 
saving  the  Georgia  troops,  who  were  hotly  engaged 
on  the  27th,  and  with  a  little  more  strength  on  the 
part  of  their  enemy  would  have  been  destroyed. 

Having  spent  the  remainder  of  the  22d  in   bury 
ing  the  dead,  the  army  marched  on  the  23d  from 
the  ground  of  Emuckfaw.     During  the  night  of  the 
23d   there  came  on  a  hurricane,  which  is  always 
favourable  to   the  fighting  of  Indians,  and  as  hia 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  79 

troops  were  not  attacned,  either  in  the  night  or 
during  their  march  on  the  23d,  General  Jackson 
rightly  guessed  that  the  enemy  had  made  up  their 
minds  to  lay  in  ambush  for  him  at  the  ford  of  Eno- 
tochopco,  about  twelve  miles  from  Emuckfaw.  Here 
the  stream  runs  through  a  deep  and  dangerous  defile, 
the  ford  is  deep,  and  the  banks  covered  with  under- 
wood and  reeds,  affording  the  best  shelter  for  a 
lurking  foe.  Jackson,  who  had  observed  these 
things  when  he  crossed  before,  at  once  resolved  to 
lead  his  army  over  by  a  ford  six  hundred  yards 
lower  down.  Expecting  that  the  enemy,  as  soon  as 
they  discovered  that  he  had  chosen  another  route, 
would  attack  him  in  the  rear,  he  formed  his  rear  so 
as  to  receive  them.  It  turned  out  as  the  General 
had  anticipated.  Part  of  the  army  had  crossed  the 
creek,  the  wounded  were  over,  and  the  artillery  were 
just  entering,  when  an  alarm  gun  was  heard  in  the 
rear,  and  the  next  instant  the  whooping  and  yelling 
of  the  savages  told  that  they  were  coming  on  in 
fearful  numbers.  The  militia  upon  the  right  and 
the  left,  with  their  colonels  at  their  head,  being 
struck  with  a  sudden  panic,  instantly  retreated 
down  the  bank,  leaving  the  brave  General  Carrol, 
with  about  twenty-five  men,  to  check  the  advancing 
savages.     Colonel  Stump  came  plunging  down  the 


80  LIFE     OF 

bank,  meeting  General  Jackson,  who  had  been  on 
the  water's  edge  superintending  the  crossing  of  the 
artillery.  Jackson  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt 
to  draw  his  sword  and  cut  the  retreating  coward 
down.  Lieutenant  Armstrong  ordered  his  com- 
pany of  artillery  to  form  upon  the  hill,  at  the  same 
time,  with  the  assistance  of  one  or  two  others, 
dragging  up  the  cannon,  a  six-pounder,  and  pointing 
it  towards  the  advancing  savages.  The  ramrod 
and  picker  had  been  lost,  and  also  two  gunners, 
Perkins  and  Craven.  Jackson  supplied  the  defici- 
ency, using  their  muskets  and  ramrods  to  load  it. 
Twice  was  the  little  gun  fired,  and  did  fearful 
execution  among  the  Indians.  This  succeeded  in 
checking  the  advancing  enemy,  and  in  the  meantime 
Jackson  had  recalled  a  number  of  the  panic-struck 
fugitives,  who  returned  to  the  fi<jht.  The  savages, 
perceiving  the  balance  of  the  army  coming  up, 
precipitately  fled,  throwing  away  their  packs,  and 
leaving  twenty-six  of  their  warriors  dead  upon  the 
field.  But  for  the  bravery  of  Lieutenant  Armstrong 
and  General  Carrol,  the  little  army  would  have  fallen 
a  sacrifice  to  the  cowardice  of  Colonels  Stump  and 
Perkins.  The  former  was  tried  by  a  court-martial 
and  cashiered. 

The  army  reached    Fort    Strother  on  the  27th, 


ANDREW  JACKSON.  81 

when  they  were  honourably  dismissed  by  their  Gen- 
eral, until  further  orders  from  the  government.  He 
now  waited  for  a  competent  force  to  enter  into  the 
heart  of  the  Creek  country*  and  put  an  end  to  lJi« 
war. 


82 


LIFE   OF 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

BATTLE    OF    TOIIOPEKA,  OR    HORSE-SHOE. 

N  the  month  of  March,  thanks  to  the 

exertions  of  Governor  Blount,  General 

Jackson  was  again  at  the  head  of  a  fine 

army,   and    ready  to  recommence   the 

campaign.     This    force    consisted    of   4000 

Tennessee    militia   and    volunteers,    and    a 

regiment  of  United  States  regulars. 

In  the  month  of  February,  he  received 
information  that  the  hostile  Indians  were  fortifying 
themselves  in  a  bend  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  called 
Tohopeka  or  Horse-shoe,  where  they  had  deter- 
mined to  make  a  last  stand.  This  was  exactly 
what  Jackson  desired,  knowing  that  if  he  could  get 
the  enemy  into  a  general  engagement,  he  would 
soon  cause  them  to  sue  for  peace.  The  country 
between  the  Coosa  and  Tallapoosa  rivers,  near  their 
junction,  known  to  the  whites  as  the  "  Hickory 
Ground,"  had  always  been  considered  by  the  Indians 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  83 

as  sacred  ground,  and  they  believed,  being  so  taught 
by  their  prophets,  that  no  white  man  could  ever 
enter  this  territory  to  conquer  it.  The  place  where 
they  were  now  concentrated  was  in  this  Hickory 
Ground,  about  fifty  miles  from  Emuckfaw,  and  in  a 
bend  of  the  Tallapoosa  River.  General  Jackson 
with  his  army  marched  down  the  Coosa,  and  es- 
tablishing a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  Cedar  Creek, 
crossed  over  to  the  Tallapoosa.  The  way  had  ta 
be  cut  from  one  river  to  the  other,  and  the  army 
was  three  days  in  crossing  the  Hickory  Ground. 
He  arrived  near  Tohopeka  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  having  with  him  over  2000  men. 

The  plan  of  this  battle  may  be  easily  understood. 
The  bend  of  the  river  in  which  the  enemy  was 
fortified,  as  its  name  imports,  resembles  in  shape  a 
horse-shoe.  Across  the  neck  of  land  by  which  it 
was  entered  from  the  north,  the  Indians  had  thrown 
up  a  rude  breastwork  of  logs,  seven  or  eight  feet 
high,  but  so  constructed  that  assailants  would  be 
exposed  to  a  double  and  cross  fire.  About  a  hundred 
acres  lay  in  this  bend,  and  at  the  bottom  of  it  was 
an  Indian  village.  All  around  the  village,  on  the 
same  side  of  the  river,  were  Indian  canoes  in  great 
numbers,  fastened  to  the  bank.  About  1000  war- 
riors were  here  assemblea. 


84  L  I  F  E     O  F 

After  seeing  how  matters  stood,  Jackson  de« 
spatched  General  Coffee  to  surround  the  bend 
opposite  to  where  the  canoes  were  tied,  while  he 
himself  advanced  to  assault  the  breastwork.  As 
soon  as  Coffee,  by  signals,  had  reported  that  the 
bend  was  completely  surrounded  by  his  troops,  the 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  a  six  and  three-pounder, 
began  to  play  upon  the  breastwork.  This  continued 
for  about  two  hours,  wrhen  some  of  the  Cherokees 
(friendly  Indians,)  who  lay  with  Coffee  on  the  river 
edge,  round  the  bend,  observing  that  none  of  the 
warriors  had  been  left  to  guard  the  canoes,  swam 
across  the  river  and  brought  them  over.  In  these 
a  number  of  those  under  Coffee's  command  crossed 
over,  and  setting  fire  to  the  village,  attacked  the 
Indians  in  the  rear.  The  troops  under  Jackson 
seeing  the  flames,  and  guessing  the  cause,  at  the 
same  time  made  a  push  at  the  breastwork,  and 
carried  it  by  storm,  though  with  the  loss  of  some 
brave  men.  Now  commenced  the  battle  in  earnest. 
The  savages,  nerved  by  despair,  and  having  not  the 
most  remote  idea  of  asking  for  quarter,  fought  des- 
perately. Some,  trying  to  escape  across  the  rivrr 
by  swimming,  were  shot  by  the  spies  and  mounted 
men  under  Coffee.  Some  took  refuse  amon^  the 
brush  and  fallen  timber  upon  the  cliffs  of  the  river 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  85 

from  which  they  fired  upon  the  victors.  Jackson, 
desirous  to  save  their  lives,  sent  an  interpreter 
within  call  to  offer  them  terms,  but  they  only  fired 
on  him,  and  wounded  him  in  the  shoulder.  The 
cannon  was  then  brought  to  bear  on  the  place  of 
their  concealment,  but  without  effect.  A  charge 
was  also  made,  and  several  lives  lost.  And  at  last 
the  brush  and  timber  was  fired,  and  such  of  them  as 
were  driven  from  their  hiding  places  were  shot  as 
they  ran.  At  length  night  put  an  end  to  the  fight, 
and  a  few  of  the  miserable  survivors  escaped  in  the 
darkness.  Not  over  two  hundred  out  of  the  whole 
escaped.  Five  hundred  and  fifty-seven  were  found 
dead  upon  the  field,  and  three  hundred  women  and 
children  were  captured.  The  loss  upon  the  side  of 
the  Americans  was  fifty-five  killed  and  146  wounded 
Of  these,  however,  nearly  a  third  were  friendly 
Creeks  and  Cherokees. 

Among  the  Indians  slain  were  three  of  their 
prophets,  who  had  been  most  active  in  stirring  up 
their  country  to  war.  Up  to  the  last  moment  they 
maintained  their  influence  over  their  deluded  coun- 
trymen, and,  amid  the  thunder  of  battle,  painted  and 
decorated  with  gaudy  feathers,  they  continued  their 
wild  and  unseemly  dances  and  incantations.  One 
of  them,  called  Monohoe,  while  in  the  midst  of  his 


86  L  I  F  E     O  F 

grotesque  dancing  and  singing,  was  struck  in  the 
mouth  by  a  grape-shot,  which  seems  an  appropriate 
rebuke  for  the  impositions  which  he  had  practised 
on  the  unhappy  victims  that  were  falling  around 
him. 

After  the  battle  of  Tohopeka  an  incident  occurred 
highly  characteristic  of  the  American  general,  and 
bis  savage  foeman.  An  Indian  about  twenty  years 
of  age  was  brought  before  the  General.  He  had 
received  a  severe  wound  in  the  le£,  and  a  surgeon 
was  sent  for  to  dress  it.  The  young  savage  sub- 
mitted quietly  to  the  operation,  but  while  it  was 
going  on  he  looked  inquiringly  at  the  General,  and 
said,  "  Cure  'im,  kill  'im  again  ?"  He  had  no  idea 
that  there  was  any  other  doom  awaiting  him  than 
that  of  death,  and  he  could  not  comprehend  why 
they  should  prepare  him  for  death  by  curing  his 
wound.  The  General  assured  him  that  he  should 
not  be  killed,  and  the  young  Indian  soon  recovered. 
General  Jackson,  ascertaining  that  all  his  relations 
had  perished  in  the  battle,  and  being  struck  with 
the  manly  bearing  of  the  young  Indian,  sent  him  to 
his  own  house  in  Tennessee.  After  the  war  he 
bound  him  out  to  a  trade  in  Nashville,  where  he 
afterwards  married  a  respectable  woman  of  colour, 
and  established  himself  in  business. 


SHI 


fee      %. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  87 

When  General  Jackson  left  the  fort  at  tne  mouth 
of  Cedar  Creek  on  the  Coosa  River,  which  had  been 
called  Fort  Williams,  he  took  with  him  on  the  expe- 
dition to  Tohopeka,  only  seven  days'  rations;  he  was 
therefore  obliged  after  the  battle  to  return  ajjain  to 
the  fort.  Before  leaving  the  scene  of  the  battle  of 
Tohopeka,  he  understood  that  the  savages  had  dug 
up  the  bodies  of  his  soldiers  who  had  fallen  at 
Emuckfaw  and  Enotochopco,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  their  scalps,  and  exhibiting  their  ferocity 
in  mutilating  the  lifeless  bodies.  The  General 
caused  his  dead  to  be  sunk  in  the  river,  and  having 
provided  every  practicable  comfort  for  his  wounded, 
commenced  his  retrograde  march  on  the  2d  of  April. 


83 


LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER  XV. 


INDIAN    CAMPAIGN,    CONTINUED. 


y~i§k. 


!E  have  before  said  that  the  tract  of 
country  lying  in  the  bend  of  the 
Coosa  and  Tallapoosa  rivers,  had 
long  been  considered  by  the  Indians 
as  consecrated  ground,  and  that  there  no 
hostile  white  man's  foot  should  ever  make 
its  track.  They  had  been  so  beguiled  by 
their  prophets,  who  had  taught  them  that 
they  should  there  forever  find  security  from  the  pale 
faces.  It  was,  besides,  the  firm  belief  of  the  whites 
that  the  conquest  of  this  tract  of  ground  would  soon 
put  an  end  to  the  war. 

We  have  seen  that  all  the  operations  of  the 
different  divisions  of  the  army  were  conducted  with 
a  view  to  a  junction  at  the  bend  of  these  rivers. 
Major  Floyd,  with  the  Georgia  troops,  were  to  enter 
on   the  east  side  of  the  hostile  country  ;  Jackson 


ANDREW     JACK30N.  89 

with  the  Tennesseans  on  the  north,  while  Claiborne 
and  the  Mississippians,  with  Williams  and  the 
United  States  regulars,  were  to  make  their  invasion 
on  the  west  and  south. 

Tue  expedition  planned  by  General  Pinckney,  the 
commander-in-chief,  would  all  have  met  at  this 
point,  no  doubt,  as  intended,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
failure  of  provisions  to  the  Tennessee  troops  at  the 
commencement  of  the  campaign. 

Jackson,  however,  after  the  battle  of  Tohopeka 
and  his  return  to  Fort  Williams,  resolved  upon  the 
complete  conquest  of  the  "Hickory  Ground."  He 
commenced  preparations  to  attack  Hoithlewalle,  a 
town  in  this  territory,  where  a  considerable  body  of 
the  Red-sticks  were  said  to  be  concentrated.  Having 
caused  the  Coosa  River  to  be  explored  below  Fort 
Williams,  he  saw  that  there  was  no  chance  of  car- 
rying his  provisions  by  water,  the  roughness  of  the 
country  and  the  poor  condition  of  his  horses,  which 
had  been  so  long  without  corn,  rendering  it  impos 
sible  to  transport  them  in  any  quantity  by  land :  he 
nevertheless  determined  to  advance  with  such  pro- 
visions as  the  men  could  carry  upon  their  backs, 
relying  upon  a  junction  with  the  eastern  army  under 
Colonel  Milton,  when  their  small  stock  should  bo 
exhausted.   With  this  view  he  had  requested  Milton 


90  LIFE     OF 

to  occupy  the  east  side  of  the  Tallapoosa  River 
opposite  to  the  scene  of  his  operations,  and  cut  off 
any  of  the  savages  who  might  attempt  to  escape  in 
that  direction. 

Most  of  the  friendly  Indians  were  dismissed,  as 
they  constituted  too  great  a  drain  on  his  resources, 
and  now  their  assistance  was  not  deemed  any 
longer  necessary.  To  prepare  his  men  for  further 
operations,  Jackson  issued  an  animated  address,  in 
the  following  terms: 

"  Soldiers, 

"  You  have  entitled  yourselves  to  the  grati- 
tude of  your  country,  and  your  general.  The  ex- 
pedition from  which  you  have  returned,  has  by  your 
good  conduct  been  rendered  prosperous  beyond  any 
example  in  the  history  of  our  warfare ;  it  has  re- 
deemed the  character  of  your  state  nnd  of  that 
description  of  troops  of  which  the  greater  part  of 
you  are. 

"  The  fiends  of  the  Tallapoosa  will  no  longer 
murder  our  women  and  children,  or  disturb  the  quiet 
of  our  borders.  Their  midnight  flambeaux  will  no 
more  illumine  their  council-house,  or  shine  upon 
the  victims  of  their  infernal  orgies.  In  their  places, 
a  new  generation  w7ill  arise,  who  will  know  their  duty 
netter.     The  weapons  of  warfare  will  be  exchangee/ 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  91 

for  the  utensils  of  husbandry;  and  the  wilderness, 
which  now  withers  in  sterility  and  mourns  the  deso- 
lation which  overspreads  her,  will  blossom  as  the 
rose  and  become  the  nursery  of  the  arts.  But,  before 
this  happy  day  can  arrive,  other  chastisements  remain 
to  be  inllicted.  It  is  indeed  lamentable  that  the  path 
to  peace  should  lead  through  blood,  and  over  the 
bodies  of  the  slain;  but  it  is  a  dispensation  of  Provi- 
dence, and  perhaps  a  wise  one,  to  inflict  partial 
evils  that  ultimate  good  may  follow." 

General  Jackson  commenced  his  march  for  Hoi- 
thlewalle  upon  the  7th  of  April,  just  five  days  after 
his  return  from  Tohopeka.  Each  of  his  men  carried 
upon  his  back  eight  days'  provisions.  It  was  his 
calculation  that  he  would  reach  Hoithlewalle  on  the 
11th;  but  the  difficulty  of  travelling,  owing  to  the 
heavy  rains  that  had  fallen,  and  which  rendered  the 
country  almost  impassable,  prevented  this. 

When  he  reached  within  ten  or  twelve  miles  of 
Hoithlewalle,  he  ascertained  that  the  town  had  been 
deserted  by  its  inhabitants.  He  then  directed  his 
march  for  Fooshatchie,  a  town  about  three  miles 
lower  down  the  river,  where  he  took  several  pri- 
soners. 

When  the  Indians  of  Hoithlewalle  and  the  neigh- 
bouring  towns   became  apprized  of  Jackson's  ap- 


92  L  I  F  E     O  F 

proach,  they  precipitately  fled  across  the  Tallapoosa 
River.  This  Genera]  Jackson  had  expected,  ana 
his  orders  to  Colonel  Milton  were  given  with  a  view 
to  prevent  their  escape  in  this  direction.  This 
foolish  officer,  however,  took  no  steps  to  co-operate 
with  him,  and  the  consequence  was,  that  while  the 
towns  of  Cooloome,  Fooshatchie,  and  Hoithlewalle 
were  in  flames,  General  Jackson  received  a  letter 
from  him,  informing  him  that  he  should  cross  the 
Tallapoosa  next  day,  and  give  the  Indians  battle. 
Instead  of  the  Indians  being  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Tallapoosa  from  that  on  which  Milton  was  en- 
camped,  they  had  already  crossed,  and  passed  him 
unmolested.  A  flood  in  the  Tallapoosa  and  want 
of  provisions,  prevented  immediate  pursuit  on  the 
Dart  of  General  Jackson,  and  thus  the  savage  enemy 
were  suffered  to  escape. 

General  Jackson  had  been  repeatedly  informed 
by  General  Pinckney,  that  50,000  rations  of  flour, 
and  10,000  of  meat,  should  be  furnished  him  by  this 
Colonel  Milton ;  and  the  eastern  army  had  therefore 
placed  full  reliance  on  this,  and  expected  to  receive 
supplies  from  him  as  soon  as  he  could  form  a 
junction.  On  application,  however,  to  Colonel  Mil- 
ton, that  officer  replied  that  he  did  not  feel  himself 
under  any  obligation  to  supply  the  Tennessee  troops- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  93 

but  would  the  next  day  lend  them  a  small  supply  of 
provisions.  Milton  had  crossed  the  Tallapoosa,  and 
was  advancing  to  attack  Hoithlewalle,  which  was 
already  in  ashes.  Jaekson,  being  informed  of  his 
position  and  movements,  sent  him  a  peremptory 
order,  by  Captain  Gordon  of  the  spies,  requiring 
him  to  furnish  the  provisions  which  he  had  previ- 
ously requested,  and  to  form  a  junction  with  him 
the  next  day.  On  reading  the  order,  Colonel  Milton 
inquired  of  Captain  Gordon,  what  sort  of  a  man 
General  Jackson  was. 

"  He  is  a  man,"  replied  the  captain,  "  wno  intends 
when  he  gives  an  order  that  it  shall  be  obeyed." 

Colonel  Milton  said  he  would  furnish  the  provi- 
sions, not  because  they  were  ordered,  but  because 
the  men  were  suffering  for  want  of  them: — but  he 
nevertheless  obeyed  the  order,  and  formed  the 
junction  as  required. 

Jackson,  in  order  to  intercept  the  enemy  who  had 
fled,  despatched  a  body  of  mounted  men  to  scour 
the  left  bank  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  while  he 
himself,  with  the  main  army,  prepared  to  march 
down  the  Coosa  as  far  as  their  junction.  In  the 
morning,  just  as  the  army  was  about  to  commence 
its  march,  word  was  brought  to  General  Jackson, 
>hat  Colonel    Milton's  brigade  could  not  move,  aa 


94  LI FE     OF 

the  wagon-horses  had  stuyed  away  in  the  nigh 
and  could  not  be  found.  Jackson  sent  back  word 
to  Milton,  that  he  had  discovered  in  such  cases,  a 
very  effectual  remedy,  and  that  i<"  he  would  detail 
twenty  men  to  each  wagon  the  ivTicully  would  be 
overcome.  Milton  took  the  hint,  2nd  having  dis 
mounted  a  few  of  his  dragoons,  avd  using  their 
horses,  the  wagons  were  soon  in  mot'Ou. 

Not  the  least  opposition  did  the  army  experience 
in  their  march  from  the  Indians,  and  ;t  had  now 
become  apparent  that  the  battle  of  Tohcp<A\  had 
ended  the  Creek  war. 

No  effort  to  rally,  after  that  fatal  day,  had  ^en 
made  by  the  surviving  warriors,  and  as  General 
Jackson  advanced,  they  either  fled  before  him  or 
came  in  and  offered  submission.  The  first  to  submit 
were  the  chiefs  of  the  Hickory  Ground,  and  as  soon 
as  it  was  known,  all  through  the  territory,  that  their 
lives  would  be  spared,  a  general  submission  was  the 
consequence,  so  that  in  a  short  time  after  this  the 
Indian  campaign  was  put  to  an  end,  and  the  Ten- 
nessee army  returned  home  to  the;r  own  state,  and 
were  honourably  discharged. 


ANDREW     JACKSON. 


95 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


SOUTHERN    CAMPAIGN    AGAINST    THE    BRITISII. 


ACKSON  was  now  (spring  of  1814,) 
appointed  to  be  a  major-general  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States.  The 
protection  of  the  coast  near  the  mouths 
of  the  Mississippi  was  intrusted  to  him;  and 
'$]  his  first  attention  was  turned  to  the  comfort, 
the  encouragement,  the  protection  which  the 
savages  received  from  the  Spanish  governor 
and  Spanish  authorities  in  the  fortress  of  Pensacola, 
which  is  situated  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  at  about  a 
hundred  miles'  distance  from  New  Orleans,  about 
thirty  miles  from  the  frontiers  of  the  state  of  Ala- 
bama, and  about  a  hundred  miles  from  the  main 
fastness  of  the  Creek  Indians.  His  opinion  was, 
that  the  savages  were  always  receiving  assistance 
from  the  Spanish  garrison,  and  from  the  British, 
through  the  means  of  that  garrison;  and  he  was 
persuaded    that,   finally,   the   British   would   assad 


CG  LIFE    OF 

New  Orleans  by  means  of  preparations  made  at 
Pensacola.  On  his  way  to  the  south,  lie  learned 
that  about  three  hundred  British  troops  had  landed, 
and  were  fortifying  themselves  at  no  great  distance 
from  Pensacola.  In  this  state  of  things,  he  endeav- 
oured to  prevail  upon  the  Spanish  governor  to  desist 
from  all  acts  injurious  to  the  United  States.  But 
that  officer  was  by  no  means  inclined  to  truth  or 
sincerity.  lie  falsified  and  prevaricated.  By  this 
time,  and  indeed  before  this  time,  the  news  had  been 
received  of  the  fall  of  Napoleon  and  his  banishment 
to  Elba.  This  event  had  greatly  increased  the 
means  of  Great  Britain  for  hostile  operations  against 
the  United  States.  This  Spanish  garrison  was,  in 
fact,  a  rendezvous  for  the  British :  it  was  a  rendez- 
vous for  the  savage  enemies  of  the  United  States. 
Captain  Gordon,  sent  by  Jackson  to  see  what  was 
passing,  in  the  month  of  August  (1814),  reported  to 
the  General  that  he  had  seen  from  fifty  to  two 
hundred  officers  and  soldiers,  a  park  of  artillery, 
about  five  hundred  savages  under  the  drill  of  British 
officers,  and  dressed  in  the  English  uniform. 

Apprised  of  these  doings,  General  Jackson  re- 
solved at  once  to  march  to  Pensacola,  and  put  an 
end  to  this  duplicity  on  the  part  of  the  Spanish 
governor  of  that  place. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  97 

Colonel  Nicholls,  at  the  head  of  a  British  expedi- 
tion, had  issued  a  proclamation,  dated  from  his 
14  head-quarters  at  Pensacola,"  leaving  no  farther 
doubt  of  the  treachery  of  the  Spanish  government. 

The  first  act  of  hostility  on  the  part  of  the  British, 
was  an  assault  upon  Fort  Bowyer,  a  post  of  the 
United  States  on  the  Mobile.  On  the  15th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1814,  Nicholls  attacked  the  fort  by  land, 
while  several  vessels,  mounting  altogether  about 
ninety  guns,  approached  by  sea.  The  expedition 
ended  by  the  blowing  up  of  one  of  the  English  ships, 
greatly  damaging  another,  and  sending  off  Colonel 
Nicholls,  the  proclamation-maker,  with  the  loss  of 
one  of  his  ships,  and,  as  it  was  said,  one  of  his  eyes. 

The  commander  of  Fort  Bowyer  was  a  Major 
Lawrence.  His  brave  band  consisted  of  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  while  the  force  of  the  British 
was,  as  we  have  seen,  ninety  guns  by  sea,  while 
Nicholls  assaulted  the  fort  by  land,  with  a  twelve 
pound  howitzer,  and  several  hundreds  of  marines, 
sailors,  and  savages.  This  affair  was  in  the  highest 
degree  honourable  to  Major  Lawrence  and  his  men. 
The  disparity  of  force  was  immense;  and  the  defeat 
of  the  British,  in  this  their  first  demonstration,  must 
have  had  a  material  influence  on  subsequent  opera- 
tions 

G 


98  L  I  F  E     O  F 

Jackson  was  a  man,  however,  who  did  not  stop 
with  half-way  measures,  and  he  was  in  this  case 
determined  to  carry  out  his  plans,  and  break  up  the 
rendezvous  at  Pensacola.  Accordingly,  on  the  6th 
of  November,  1814,  he  marched  against  it,  demol- 
ished all  its  defences  and  protections,  drove  out  the 
British  and  the  savages,  and  demonstrated  that  there 
was  enough  American  energy  to  put  down  any  triple 
combination  of  English,  Spaniards  and  savages. 

Having  given  the  haughty  and  insolent  foe  a  fore- 
taste of  that  which  was  to  come,  he  repaired  to  the 
point  which  was  to  be  the  grand  scene  of  action 
He  arrived  at  the  city  of  New  Orleans  on  the  1st  of 
December,  1814.  News  had  been  received  of  the 
approach  of  a  British  fleet.  The  first  intelligence 
of  this  sort  was  received  on  the  4th  of  December. 
Cochrane,  who  commanded  the  British  fleet,  and 
who  had  the  celebrated  Sir  George  Cockburn 
under  him,  had  collected  all  their  forces  together, 
after  they  had  been  beaten  off  from  before  Balti- 
more, and  had  sailed  for  New  Orleans,  whither 
Nicholls  had  been  sent  before  to  prepare  the  way 
for  the  proclamation,  which  had  just  been  issued 
from  his  head-quarters  at  Pensacola.  They  were 
to  be  joined,  as  they  afterwards  were,  by  a  strong 
body  of  the  "  heroes  of  the  Peninsula."    Their  force 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  99 

altogether  was  prodigious :  ships  of  the  line,  frigates, 
sloops  of  war,  fire-ships,  great  numbers  of  furnaces 
to  heat  red-hot  shot,  Congreve  rockets,  all  manner 
of  materials  for  sapping,  and  mining,  and  blowing 
up  :  an  expedition  costing,  in  all  probability,  more 
than  a  million  of  pounds  sterling  in  the  fitting  out. 
There  were  eleven  thousand  regular  "  heroes  of  the 
Peninsula ;"  there  were  four  generals,  two  admirals, 
twelve  thousand,  at  the  least,  of  seamen  and  ma- 
rines, artillery  in  abundance,  of  all  sorts  ;  perhaps 
a  hundred  gun-boats  and  barges;  and  every  expense 
ready  to  be  incurred  for  the  employment  of  persons 
of  all  sorts ;  besides  numerous  bands  of  savages 
ready  to  come  in,  if  the  attack  had  succeeded. 

Such  was  the  mighty  armament  prepared  for  the 
conquest  of  New  Orleans.  But  the  city  had  a  de- 
fender whose  energy,  skill,  and  promptness,  emi- 
nently fitted  him  for  the  perilous  task  of  opposing 
these  great  forces. 


100 


LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

JACKSON    AT    NEW    ORLEANS. 

E  have  seen  that  Jackson,  having 
received  intelligence  which  made 
him  believe,  and  quite  certain  in- 
deed, that  the  intention  of  the  Brit- 
ish was  to  get  possession  of  the  mouths  of 
the  Mississippi,  of  the  whole  state  of  Louis- 
iana, and  particularly  of  that  rich  prize,  the 
city  of  New  Orleans,  crammed  with  sugar, 
coffee,  flour,  cotton,  and  all  sorts  of  merchandise, 
repaired  thither,  that  is  to  say,  to  the  city  itself,  on 
the  1st  of  December,  1814.  On  the  6th  of  Decem- 
ber, he  received  certain  intelligence  that  a  large 
British  force  was  off  the  port  of  Pensacola,  destined 
against  New  Orleans;  that  it  amounted  to  about 
eighty  vessels,  and  that  more  than  double  that 
number  were  momentarily  looked  for  to  form  a 
junction  with  those  already  arrived  ;  that  there  were 
in  this  fleet  vessels  of  all  descriptions,  contrived  for 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  101 

the  most  deadly  purposes,  with  a  large  body  of  land 
troops;  that  Admiral  Cochrane  had  the  command, 
r.nd  that  his  ship,  the  Tonnant,  was  then  lying  off 
Pensacola. 

It  must  here  be  observed,  that  the  city  of  New 
Drl^ans,  at  this  time  containing  a  population  of 
about  30,000  inhabitants,  had  been  purchased  from 
the  French  only  three  years  before,  (in  1811,)  and 
that  most  of  its  citizens  were  of  Spanish  and  French 
descent.  From  this  it  will  easily  be  understood  that 
their  attachment  to  their  new  government  was  any- 
thing but  warm,  and  in  fact  the  greater  number  of 
these  people,  having  been  educated  and  brought  up 
in  the  monarchical  countries  of  Europe,  would  have 
preferred  that  the  British  should  have  taken  the 
city,  provided  they  had  been  left  unmolested.  When 
this  is  taken  into  account,  it  will  easily  be  imagined 
that  General  Jackson,  in  preparing  to  defend  it,  had 
other  difficulties  to  contend  against,  than  mere  want 
of  troops,  ammunition,  and  arms.  He  had  some- 
thing else  than  mere  fighting  to  do:  he  had  to  con- 
tend against  treason  in  every  quarter  and  corner, 
and  treason  on  the  part  of  those  whose  very  hearths 
and  homes  and  lives  he  had  come  to  defend  from  a 
ruthless  and  mercenary  soldiery.  Me  was  obliged. 
as  will  easily  be  supposed,  to  place  the  city  undei 


102  LIFE     OF 

martial  law,  and  in  one  instance,  where  he  had 
ordered  a  traitor  to  be  imprisoned,  and  where  that 
traitor  had  been  set  at  liberty  by  Judge  Hall,  ths 
General  thought  it  necessary  to  imprison  the  judge 
also.  These,  to  be  sure,  seem  harsh  measures,  but 
the  necessity  of  the  case  required  harsh  measures, 
and  had  such  measures  not  have  been  taken,  New 
Orleans  would,  most  undoubtedly,  have  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  British,  and  our  country  would  have 
suffered  incalculable  disgrace  and  disaster.  In  the 
midst  of  every  kind  of  difficulty,  with  his  faithful 
little  army,  did  General  Jackson  await  the  British 
invader.  He  had,  to  be  sure,  a  faithful  army,  with 
faithful  officers  ;  but  they  were  badly  armed  and 
equipped,  while  the  citizens  around  him  had  almost 
yielded  to  despair,  thinking  that,  with  such  means, 
there  was  not  the  slightest  hope  of  opposing  the 
splendid  armament  that  was  coming  against  them, 
and  which  consisted  of  the  flower  of  the  British 
army  who  had  just  conquered  Napoleon  Bonaparte. 
It  was  with  these  difficulties  and  dangers  starinor 
him  in  the  face,  that  Genera]  Jackson  proceeded  to 
make  preparations  to  surmount  them  all,  and  the 
manner  in  which  he  succeeded  will  be  related  in  the 
following  chapters. 


ANDREW     JACKSON. 


103 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


BATTLE    OF    THE    TWENTY-THIRD    OP    DECEMBER. 


N  order  that  the  reader  may  the  more 
fully  understand  the  military  operations 
carried  on  in  the  defence  of  New  Or- 
leans, it  may  not  be  improper  to  make 
^?MQ   a  ^ew  remai'ks  upon  the  peculiar  situation  of 
J!      that  city. 

New  Orleans  is  about  one  hundred  and 
five  miles  from  the  mouths  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  and  situated  around  a  bend,  on  the  left,  01 
eastern  bank.  It  is  generally  approached  by  vessels 
by  the  river,  although  small  craft,  such  as  schooners 
and  sloops,  navigate  lakes  Pontchartrain  and  Borgne 
(an  arm  of  the  sea,  lying  behind  the  city,  and  sepa- 
rated from  it,  as  well  as  from  the  river,  by  a 
narrow  tract  of  country,  which  is,  for  the  most  part, 
an  impassable  and  forest-covered  swamp.)  A  nar- 
row strip  of  land,  varying  from  a  few  hundred  yards 
to  two  or  three  miles,  borders  the  river,  gradually 


J  04  LIFE    OF 

tapering  off'  into  a  swamp  as  it  recedes,  until  K 
reaches  the  lakes.  This  strip  of  land  is  covered 
with  plantations  of  sugar  and  cotton,  &c,  and  pro- 
tected from  inundations  of  the  river  by  an  embank- 
ment of  earth,  called  the  "  Levee,"  which  runs  up 
far  above  the  city.  The  same  is  found  on  both  sides 
of  the  river. 

Now  the  English  armament,  instead  of  coming  up 
the  river,  entered  the  lakes  and  commenced  landing 
their  forces,  on  the  23d  of  December,  upon  this  strip 
of  dry  land,  about  eight  miles  below  the  city.  They 
reached  the  dry  land  by  means  of  a  stream  or 
"  Bayou,"  (a  sort  of  natural  canal,)  called  the  Bayou 
Bienvenu,  through  which  they  passed  in  their  boats. 
They  were  as  yet  ignorant  that  Jackson  had  been 
making  such  preparations  to  receive  them,  and  in- 
stead of  marching  directly  upon  the  city,  which 
would  have  been  the  safest  course,  their  commander 
resolved  to  encamp  where  he  had  landed,  on  the 
plantations  of  two  or  three  French  settlers. 

When  General  Jackson  received  intelligence  that 
the  British  were  landing  through  Bienvenu  and 
Villere's  canal,  he  determined  to  attack  them  in- 
stantly, and  therefore  ordered  the  brigades  of  gen- 
erals Coffee  and  Carroll,  who  were  encamped  about 
four  miles  above  New  Orleans,  into  the  city.     So 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  105 

prompt  were  these,  that  in  two  hours  they  were  in 
the  streets  and  ready.  As  yet  General  Jackson 
could  not.  tell  what  force  of  the  British  had  arrived 
at  Lacoste's  and  Laronde's  plantations,  (these  were 
the  plantations  lying  between  the  river  and  tho 
Bayou  Bienvenu,)  nor  whether  this  was  not  in- 
tended as  a  feint  to  draw  off  his  attention  from 
some  other  point  of  approach,  for,  as  we  have  seen, 
there  were  several  other  directions  by  which  the 
city  might  be  reached.  Labouring  under  this  doubt, 
he  detached  General  Carroll  with  his  division,  along 
with  Governor  Claiborne  and  the  Louisiana  militia, 
to  take  post  on  the  Gentilly  road,  which  led  from 
Chef  Menteur  (another  landing-place,)  to  New  Or- 
leans. Their  orders  were  to  defend  this  approach 
should  the  British  make  their  appearance  on  it,  to 
the  last  extremity. 

With  the  remainder  of  his  troops,  in  all  about 
2000  men,  Jackson  hastened  down  the  river  towards 
the  point  where  it  had  been  reported  the  British 
were  effecting  a  landing. 

Alarm  pervaded  the  city.  The  marching  and 
countermarching  of  the  troops,  the  proximity  of  the 
enemy,  with  the  approaching  contest,  and  uncer- 
tainty of  the  issue,  had  excited  a  general  fear, 
Already  might  the  British  be  on  their  way  and  at 


106  LIFE     OF 

hand  before  the  necessary  arrangements  could  £e 
made  to  oppose  them.  To  prevent  this,  Colonel 
Hay ne,  with  two  companies  of  riflemen  and  tho 
Mississippi  dragoons,  was  sent  forward  to  recon- 
noitre their  camp,  learn  their  position  and  their 
numbers,  and  if  they  should  be  found  advancing,  to 
harass  and  oppose  them  at  every  step  until  tho 
main  body  should  arrive. 

Everything  being  ready,  General  Jackson  com- 
menced his  march,  to  meet  and  fight  the  veteran 
troops  of  England.  An  inconsiderable  circumstance 
at  this  moment  evinced  what  unlimited  confidence 
was  reposed  in  his  skill  and  bravery.  As  his  troops 
were  marching  through  the  city,  his  ears  were 
assailed  with  the  screams  and  cries  of  innumerable 
females,  who  had  collected  on  the  way,  and  seemed 
to  apprehend  the  worst  of  consequences.  Feeling 
for  their  distresses,  and  anxious  to  quiet  them,  he 
directed  Mr.  Livingston,  one  of  his  aids-de-camp,  to 
address  them  in  the  French  language.  "  Say  to 
them,"  said  he,  "  not  to  be  alarmed  :  the  enemy  shall 
never  reach  the  city."  It  operated  like  an  electric 
shock  upon  these  terrified  creatures.  To  know  that 
he,  himself,  was  not  afraid  of  a  fatal  result,  inspired 
them  at  once  with  confidence,  and  changed  then 
fears  into  hopes. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  107 

The  General  arrived  within  sight  of  the  enemy's 
position  a  little  before  dark,  and  having  previously 
gotten  from  a  colonel,  who  had  been  sent  in  ad- 
vance, some  tolerable  idea  of  their  strength,  (he 
thought  it  was  about  2000 :  it  proved,  however,  to 
be  3000,  as  was  afterwards  found,  and  was  con- 
stantly increasing  by  reinforcements  from  the  ves- 
sels,) he  determined  upon  an  immediate  attack.  It 
was  planned  in  the  following  manner:  Coffee,  with 
one  division  of  the  army,  was  to  march  to  the  left, 
keeping  near  the  swamp,  and  thus,  if  possible,  turn 
the  enemy's  right,  and  drive  them  toward  the  river, 
where  a  schooner-of-war,  (the  Caroline,)  commanded 
by  Commodore  Patterson,  would  drop  down  and 
open  upon  them.  The  main  division  of  Jackson's 
army,  led  by  himself,  would  advance  down  the  main 
road,  near  the  river,  and  attack  the  fresh  landed 
troops  in  front. 

These  plans  being  arranged,  they  were  imme- 
diately entered  upon. 

General  Coffee  with  silence  and  caution  had  ad- 
vanced beyond  their  pickets,  next  the  swamp,  and 
nearly  reached  the  point  to  which  he  was  ordered, 
when  a  broadside  from  the  Caroline  announced  the 
battle  begun.  Patterson  had  proceeded  slowly, 
giving  time,  as  he  believed,  for  the  execution  of 


108  LIFE     OF 

those  arrangements  contemplated  on  the  shore.  So 
sanguine  had  the  British  been  in  the  belief  that  they 
would  be  kindly  received,  and  little  opposition 
attempted,  that  the  Caroline  floated  by  the  sentinels, 
and  anchored  before  their  camp  without  any  kind 
of  molestation.  On  passing  the  front  picket  sho 
was  hailed  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  but  not  returning 
an  answer,  no  further  question  was  made.  This, 
added  to  some  other  attendant  circumstances,  con- 
firmed the  opinion  that  they  believed  her  a  vessel 
laden  with  provisions,  which  had  been  sent  out  from 
New  Orleans,  and  was  intended  for  them.  Having 
reached  what,  from  their  fires,  appeared  to  be  the 
centre  of  their  encampment,  her  anchors  were  cast, 
and  her  character  and  business  disclosed  from  her 
guns.  So  unexpected  an  attack  produced  a  mo- 
mentary confusion ;  but  recovering,  she  was  an- 
swered by  a  discharge  of  musketry  and  flight  of 
Congreve  rockets,  which  passed  without  injury, 
while  the  grape  and  canister  from  her  guns  were 
pouring  destructively  on  them.  To  take  away  the 
certainty  of  aim  afforded  by  the  light  from  their 
fires,  these  were  immediately  extinguished,  and  they 
retired  two  or  three  hundred  yards  into  the  open 
field,  if  not  out  of  the  reach  of  cannon,  at  least  to  a 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  1  OS 

distance,  where  by  the  darkness  of  the  n.ght  they 
would  be  protected. 

Coffee  had  dismounted  his  men,  and  turned  his 
horses  loose,  at  a  large  ditch,  next  the  swamp,  in 
the  rear  of  Laronde's  plantation,  and  gained,  as  he 
thought,  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  line,  when  the 
signal  from  the  Caroline  reached  him.  He  directly 
wheeled  his  column  in,  and  forming,  marched  toward 
the  river  and  the  enemy.  He  had  not  proceeded 
more  than  an  hundred  yards,  when  he  received  a 
heavy  fire  from-  the  enemy's  line  formed  in  front. 
This  he  did  not  expect,  as  he  supposed  they  were 
much  nearer  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  so  they  had 
been,  until  the  fire  of  the  Caroline  drove  them  nearer 
the  swamp,  and  consequently  nearer  to  Coffee.  The 
moon  was  shining,  but  so  feebly  that  it  was  difficult 
to  distinguish  objects  at  any  distance.  As  Coffee's 
forces  were  mostly  riflemen,  orders  were  given  them 
not  to  fire  at  random,  but  to  make  certain  shots. 
Going  on  for  some  time  with  caution,  they  at  last 
came  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  when  a  general  dis- 
charge of  the  American  rifles  caused  them  to  retreat ; 
they,  however,  rallied  again,  and  formed,  when  they 
were  a^ain  attacked  and  again  forced  to  retreat. 

The  brave  yeomanry,  led  on  by  tneir  gallant 
commander,  pressed  fearlessly  forward,  driving  their 


110  LIFE    OF 

assailants  from  every  position  which  they  took  up 
Their  general  was  under  no  necessity  to  encourage 
them  by  words ;  his  own  example  was  sufficient  to 
excite  them.  Always  in  the  midst,  he  displayed  a 
coolness  and  disregard  of  danger,  calling  to  his 
troops  that  they  had  often  said  they  could  fight — 
now  was  the  time  to  prove  it. 

The  British,  driven  back  by  the  resolute  firmness 
and  ardour  of  the  assailants,  had  now  reached  a 
grove  of  orange-trees,  with  a  ditch  running  past  it, 
protected  by  a  fence  on  the  margin.  Here  they 
were  halted  and  formed  for  battle.  It  was  a  favour- 
able position,  promising  security,  and  was  occupied 
with  a  confidence  that  they  could  not  be  forced  to 
yield  it.  Coffee's  dauntless  yeomanry,  strengthened  in 
their  hopes  of  success,  moved  on,  nor  discovered  the 
advantages  against  them,  until  a  fire  from  the  entire 
British  line  showed  their  position  and  defence.  A 
sudden  check  was  given  ;  but  it  was  only  momentary, 
for  gathering  fresh  ardour,  they  charged  across  the 
ditch,  gave  a  deadly  and  destructive  fire,  and  forced 
the  enemy  once  more  to  give  way.  The  retreat 
continued,  until  gaining  a  similar  position,  the  British 
made  another  stand,  and  were  again  driven  from  it 
with  considerable  loss. 

Thus  the  battle  raged  on  the  left  wing,  until  iht 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  Ill 

British  reached  the  bank  of  the  river ;  here  a  deter 
mined  stand  was  made,  and  further  encroachments 
resisted:  for  half  an  hour  the  conflict  was  extremely 
violent  on  both  sides.  The  American  troops  could 
not  be  driven  from  their  purpose,  nor  the  British 
made  to  yield  their  ground;  but  at  length,  having 
suffered  greatly,  the  latter  were  under  the  necessity 
of  taking  refuge  behind  the  levee,  which  afforded  a 
breastwork,  and  protected  them  from  the  fatal  fire 
of  our  riflemen.  Coffee,  unacquainted  with  their 
position,  for  the  darkness  had  greatly  increased, 
already  contemplated  again  to  charge  them ;  but 
one  of  his  officers,  who  had  discovered  the  advan- 
tage their  situation  gave  them,  assured  him  it  was 
too  hazardous ;  that  they  could  be  driven  no  farther, 
and  would,  from  the  point  they  occupied,  resist  with 
the  bayonet,  and  repel,  with  considerable  loss,  any 
attempt  that  might  be  made  to  dislodge  them.  The 
place  of  their  retirement  was  covered  in  front  by  a 
strong  bank,  which  had  been  extended  into  the  field. 
to  keep  out  the  river,  in  consequence  of  the  first 
being  encroached  upon,  and  undermined  in  several 
places :  the  former,  however,  was  still  entire  in 
many  parts,  which,  interposing  between  them  and 
the  Mississippi,  afforded  security  from  the  broad- 
sides of  the  schooner,  which  lay  off  at  some  distance. 


112  L IF  E     O  F 

A  further  apprehension,  lest,  by  moving  still  neare. 
to  the  river,  he  might  greatly  expose  himself  to  the 
fire  of  the  Caroline,  which  was  yet  spiritedly  main 
taming  the  conflict,  induced  Coffee  to  retire  until  he 
could  hear  from  the  commanding  general,  and  re- 
ceive his  further  orders. 

While  General  Coffee  was  thus  employed  upon 
the  left,  and  next  the  swamp,  the  main  division 
under  Jackson  had  been  led  down  the  Levee  road. 
Instead  of  moving  in  column,  which  had  been  or- 
dered by  Jackson,  and  which  order  had  been  omitted 
to  be  executed,  the  troops  had  been  formed  in  line, 
and  thus  commenced  their  march,  but  although  the 
ground  was  wide  enough  for  this,  at  first,  it  gradually 
grew  narrower,  and  the  centre  became  compressed, 
and  was  forced  into  the  rear.  The  river  gradually 
inclining  to  the  left,  diminished  the  space,  and  La- 
ronde's  house,  surrounded  by  a  grove  of  clustered 
orange  trees,  compressed  the  left  wing,  so  that  two 
battalions  (Planche's  and  Daqum's,)  were  thrown 
into  confusion.  This  could  have  been  easily  re- 
medied, but  for  the  briskness  of  the  advance,  and 
the  darkness  of  the  night.  A  heavy  fire  from  behind 
a  fence,  immediately  before  them,  had  brought  the 
enemv  to  view.  Acting  in  obedience  to  their  orders, 
not  to  waste  their  ammunition  at  random,  our  troops 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  113 

had  pressed  forward  against  the  opposition  in  their 
front,  and  therehy  threw  those  battalions  in  the  rear 
A  fog  rising  from  the  river,  and  which,  added  to 
the  smoke  from  the  guns,  was  covering  the  plain, 
gradually  diminished  the  little  light  shed  by  the 
moon,  and  greatly  increased  the  darkness  of  the 
ni^ht :  no  clue  was  left  to  ascertain  how  or  where 
the  enemy  were  situated.  There  was  no  alternative 
but  to  move  on  in  the  direction  of  their  fire,  which 
subjected  the  assailants  to  material  disadvantages. 
The  British,  driven  from  their  first  position,  had 
retired  back,  and  occupied  another,  behind  a  deep 
ditch,  that  ran  out  of  the  Mississippi  towards  the 
swamp,  on  the  margin  of  which  was  a  wood-railed 
fence.  Here,  strengthened  b}^  increased  numbers, 
they  again  opposed  the  advance  of  our  troops. 
Having  waited  until  they  had  approached  sufficiently 
near  to  be  discovered,  from  their  fastnesses  they 
discharged  a  fire  upon  the  advancing  army.  In- 
stantly our  battery  was  formed,  and  poured  destruc- 
tively upon  them;  while  the  infantry,  pressing  for- 
ward, aided  in  the  conflict,  which  at  this  point  was 
for  some  time  spiritedly  maintained.  At  this  moment 
a  brisk  sally  was  made  upon  our  advance,  when  the 
marines,  unequal  to  the  assault,  were  already  giving 
way.     The  adjutant-general,  and  Colonels  Piatt  and 

H 


114  LIFE     OF 

Chotard,  with  a  part  of  the  seventh,  hastening  to 
their  support,  drove  the  enemy,  and  saved  the  artil 
Iery  from  capture.  General  Jackson,  perceiving  the 
decided  advantages  which  were  derived  from  the 
position  they  occupied,  ordered  their  line  to  be 
charged.  It  was  obeyed  with  cheerfulness,  and 
executed  with  promptness.  Pressing  on,  our  troops 
gained  the  ditch,  and  pouring  across  it  a  well-aimed 
fire,  compelled  them  to  retreat,  and  to  abandon  their 
intrenchment.  The  plain  on  which  they  were  con- 
tending was  cut  to  pieces  by  races  from  the  river 
to  convey  the  water  to  the  swamp.  The  enemjl 
were  therefore  very  soon  enabled  to  occupy  another 
position,  equally  favourable  with  the  one  whence 
they  had  been  just  driven,  where  they  formed  for 
battle,  and  for  some  time  gallantly  maintained  them- 
selves; but  which  at  length,  and  after  stubborn 
resistance,  they  were  forced  to  yield. 

The  enemy,  discovering  the  firm  and  obstinate 
advance  made  by  the  right  wing  of  the  American 
army,  and  presuming,  perhaps,  that  its  principal 
strength  was  posted  on  the  road,  formed  the  inten- 
tion of  attacking  violently  the  left.  Obliquing  for 
this  purpose,  an  attempt  was  made  to  turn  it.  At 
.his   moment,  Daquin's   and   the  battalion  of  city 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  115 

guards,  being  marched  up  and  formed  on  the  left  of 
the  forty-fourth  regiment,  met  and  repulsed  them. 

The  darkness  of  the  night  prevented  the  advan- 
tages which  might  have  been  obtained  by  our  artil- 
lery; nevertheless,  guided  by  the  blaze  of  the  enemy's 
musquetry,  it  had  been  used  with  such  effect  as 
greatly  to  annoy  them. 

The  enemy  had  been  thrice  assailed  and  beaten, 
and  had  been  forced  for  nearly  a  mile  down  the 
river.  They  had  now  retired  so  that  they  were 
only  to  be  found  amidst  the  darkness  of  night.  The 
General,  therefore,  before  proceeding  farther,  re- 
solved to  halt  until  he  could  ascertain  what  had 
been  the  result  of  Coffee's  attack  on  the  enemy's 
right.  He  knew  from  the  brisk  firing  he  had  heard 
in  that  direction,  that  he  had  been  warmly  engaged, 
but  as  that  had  nearly  ceased,  as  well  as  the  firing 
from  the  Caroline,  he  thought  proper  to  halt,  and 
ascertain  what  had  been  his  success.  Having 
earned,  therefore,  that  from  the  darkness  some  con- 
fusion had  been  produced  in  Coffee's  ranks,  similar 
to  that  which  had  arisen  in  his  own,  he  determined 
to  prosecute  the  battle  no  farther,  but  wait  until  the 
morning  light  should  enable  him  to  discover  the 
oosition  of  his  enemy. 

It  had    been    Jackson's  behef  that  he  m:ght  be 


116  LI  FE     O  F 

enabled  to  cnpture  the  whole  British  army,  by  fol 
lowing  up  his  success,  and  from  the  fact  that  they 
having  just  landed,  and  being  entirely  ignorant  of 
the  nature  of  the  country  or  of  the  strength  of  their 
opponents,  there  was  sufficient  reason  upon  which 
to  ground  this  belief:  but  when  Jackson  heard  from 
Coffee  of  the  strong  position  into  which  the  enemy 
had  been  driven,  and  also  that  a  division  of  his 
(Coffee's,)  troops  had  been  detached,  and  were 
probably  captured,  he  ordered  the  army  back  to  the 
original  position. 

The  party  that  had  been  detached  from  General 
Coffee's  command,  were  colonels  Dyer  and  Gibson, 
with  about  two  hundred  men,  and  Captain  Beal's 
company  of  riflemen. 

Dyer,  who  commanded  the  extreme  left,  on  clear- 
ing a  grove  after  the  enemy  had  retired,  was 
marching  in  a  direction  where  he  expected  to  find 
General  Coffee ;  he  very  soon  discovered  a  force  in 
front,  and  halting  his  men,  hastened  towards  it ; 
arriving  within  a  short  distance,  he  was  hailed, 
ordered  to  stop,  and  report  to  whom  he  belonged: 
Dyer,  and  Gibson,  his  lieutenant-colonel,  who  had 
accompanied  him,  advanced  and  stated  they  were  of 
Coffee's  brigade ;  by  this  time  they  had  arrived 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  line,  and  perceiving 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  117 

that  tne  name  of  the  brigade  they  had  stated  was 
not  understood,  their  apprehensions  were  awakened 
lest  it  might  be  a  detachment  of  the  enemy;  in  this 
opinion  they  were  confirmed,  and  wheeling  to  return, 
were  fired  on  and  pursued.  Gibson  had  scarcely 
started  when  he  fell ;  before  he  could  recover,  a 
soldier  quicker  than  the  rest  had  reached  him,  and 
pinned  him  to  the  ground  with  his  bayonet ;  for- 
tunately the  stab  had  but  slightly  wounded  him, 
and  he  was  only  held  by  his  clothes ;  thus  pinioned, 
and  perceiving  others  to  be  briskly  advancing,  but  a 
moment  was  left  for  deliberation  ;  making  a  violent 
exertion,  and  springing  to  his  feet,  he  threw  his 
assailant  to  the  ground,  and  made  good  his  escape. 
Colonel  Dyer  had  retreated  about  fifty  yards,  when 
his  horse  dropped  dead;  entangled  in  the  fall,  and 
slightly  wounded  in  the  thigh,  there  was  little 
prospect  of  relief,  for  the  enemy  were  briskly  ad- 
vancing; his  men  being  near  at  hand,  he  ordered 
them  to  advance  and  fire,  which  checked  their  ap- 
proach, and  enabled  him  to  escape.  Being  now  at 
the  head  of  his  command, — perceiving  an  enemy  in 
a  direction  he  had  not  expected,  and  uncertain  how 
or  where  he  might  find  General  Coffee,  he  deter- 
mined to  seek  him  to  the  right,  and  moving  on  with 
his  little  band,  forced  his  way  through  the  enemy's 


IIS  LIF  E     OF 

lines,  with  the  loss  of  sixty-three  of  his  men,  who 
were  killed  and  taken.  Captain  Beal,  with  equal 
bravery,  charged  through  the  enemy,  carrying  off 
some  prisoners,  and  losing  several  of  his  own  com- 
pany. 

The  battle  of  the  23d  was  well  planned,  and  but 
for  the  confusion  introduced  into  the  ranks,  and  the 
Caroline  having  given  her  signals  too  early,  before 
Coffee  had  made  his  arrangements  on  the  side  to- 
ward  the  swamp,  it  would  have  been  attended  with 
complete  success.  The  battle,  however,  of  the  night 
of  the  23d,  was  of  the  utmost  importance  in  its  re- 
sults, as  it  had  the  effect  of  checking  the  enemy  in 
their  advance  toward  the  city,  which  would  have 
doubtless  been  attempted  next  day.  By  this,  as  we 
shall  presently  see,  Jackson  obtained  time  to  com- 
plete that  impregnable  and  ever-memorable  fortifi- 
cation, by  the  assistance  of  which,  he  was  enabled 
to  repel  an  army  of  twice  his  own  numbers,  and  de- 
fend a  wealthy  city  from  pillage  and  ruin. 


ANDREW     JACKSON. 


119 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


FURTHER    OrERATIOiNS 


ACKSON  having  now  ascertained  that 

the  enemy  were  making  their  principal 

landing  through  the  Bayou  Bienvenu, 

immediately    despatched    orders     for 

General  Carroll  to  join  him  with  the  troops, 


&*$&  3  which,  it  will  he  recollected,  had  been  left  to 


defend  the  approach  by  Chef  Menteur. 
^  f*»  Ascertaining,  moreover,  that  about  6000 

of  the  enemy  were  already  on  the  ground,  he  saw 
that  his  best  course  would  be  to  occupy  some  forti- 
fied position,  and  act  upon  the  defensive  until  he 
could  discover  the  future  views  of  the  enemy,  and 
until  he  should  receive  expected  reinforcements  from 
Kentucky. 

Pursuing  this  idea,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
having  ordered  Colonel  Hinds  to  occupy  the  ground 
he  was  then  abandoning,  and  to  observe  the  enemy 
closely,  he  fell  back,  and  formed  his  line  behind  a 


V20  L  I  F  E     0  F 

deep  ditch,  that  stretched  to  the  swamp  at  right 
angles  from  the  river.  There  were  two  circum- 
stances strongly  recommending  the  importance  of 
this  place: — the  swamp,  which  from  the  highlands 

at   Baton  Roujje  skirts  the  river  at  irregular   dis- 
cs o 

tances,  and  in  many  places  is  almost  impervious, 
had  here  approached  within  four  hundred  yards  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  hence,  from  the  narrowness  of 
the  pass,  was  more  easily  to  be  defended  ;  added  to 
which,  there  was  a  deep  canal,  whence  the  dirt  being 
thrown  on  the  upper  side,  already  formed  a  tolerable 
work  of  defence.  Behind  this  his  troops  were 
formed,  and  proper  measures  adopted  for  increasing 
its  strength,  with  a  determination  never  to  abandon 
it ;  but  there  to  resist  to  the  last,  and  valiantly  to 
defend  those  rights  which  were  sought  to  be  out- 
ra^ed  and  destroved. 

Promptitude  and  decision,  and  activity  in  execu- 
tion, constituted  the  leading  traits  of  Jackson's 
character.  No  sooner  had  he  resolved  on  the  course 
which  he  thought  necessary  to  be  pursued,  than  with 
every  possible  despatch  he  hastened  to  its  comple- 
tion. Before  him  was  an  army  proud  of  its  name, 
and  distinguished  for  its  deeds  of  valour;  opposed 
to  which  was  his  own  unbending  spirit,  and  an  in- 
ferior, undisciplined,  and  unarmed  force.     He  con- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  121 

ceived,  therefore,  that  his  was  a  defensive  policy 
that  by  prudence  and  caution  he  would  be  able  to 
preserve  what  offensive  operation  might  have  a 
tendency  to  endanger.  Hence,  with  activity  and 
industry,  based  on  a  hope  of  ultimate  success,  he 
commenced  his  plan  of  defence,  determining  to  for- 
tify himself  as  effectually  as  the  peril  and  pressure 
of  the  moment  would  permit.  When  to  expect 
attack  he  could  not  tell;  preparation  and  readiness 
to  meet  it  was  for  him  to  determine  on,  all  else  was 
for  the  enemy.  Promptly,  therefore,  he  proceeded 
with  his  system  of  defence;  and  with  such  thought- 
fulness  and  anxiety,  that  until  the  night  of  the  27th, 
when  his  line  was  completed,  he  never  slept,  or  for 
a  moment  closed  his  eyes.  Resting  his  hope  of 
safety  here,  he  was  everywhere,  through  the  night, 
present,  encouraging  his  troops  and  hastening  a 
completion  of  the  work.  For  five  days  and  four 
nights  he  was  without  sleep,  and  constantly  em- 
ployed. His  line  of  defence  (the  celebrated  cotton 
embankment,)  being  completed,  on  the  night  of  the 
27th  he,  for  the  first  time  since  the  arrival  of  the 
enemy,  retired  to  rest  and  repose. 

From  the  violence  of  the  assault  already  made, 
the  fears  of  the  British  had  been  greatly  excited ;  tc 
keep  their  apprehensions  alive  was  considered  im« 


122  LIFE     OF 

portant,  with  a  view  partially  to  destroy  the  Orel  < 
weening  confidence  with  which  they  had  arrived  021 
our  shores,  and  to  compel  them  to  act  for  a  time 
upon  the  defensive.  To  effect  this,  General  Coffee, 
with  his  brigade,  was  ordered  down  on  the  morning 
of  the  24th,  to  unite  with  Colonel  Hinds,  and  make 
a  show  in  the  rear  of  Lacoste's  plantation.  The 
enemy,  not  yet  recovered  from  the  panic  produced 
by  the  assault  of  the  preceding  evening,  already 
believed  it  was  in  contemplation  to  urge  another 
attack,  and  immediately  formed  themselves  to  repel 
it ;  but  Coffee,  having  succeeded  in  recovering  some 
of  his  horses,  which  were  wandering  along  the  mar- 
gin of  the  swamp,  and  in  regaining  part  of  the 
clothing  which  his  troops  had  lost  the  night  before, 
returned  to  the  line,  leaving  them  to  conjecture  the 
objects  of  his  movement. 

Besides  the  line  of  defence  which  Jackson  was 
forming  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  he  also  had 
prepared  defences  at  other  points  where  he  thought 
Jie  enemy  might  approach. 

Major  Reynolds  had  been  despatched  to  fortify 
the  bayous  leading  from  Barrataria,  in  company 
with  Lafitte,  who,  from  his  lively  zeal  in  favour  of 
his  adopted  country,  had  been  pardoned  by  the 
United  States,  and  received  into  their  service.   Chef 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  123 

Menteur  was  also  defended  by  Major  Lacoste,  and 
the  fortifications  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi 
were  under  the  direction  of  Morgan.  He  feared 
that  the  shipping  of  the  enemy  might  come  up  the 
river,  and  therefore  forts  St.  Philip  and  Bourbon 
were  put  in  the  best  order  to  prevent  this. 

On  the  27th  the  enemy  opened  a  battery  (which 
tiey  had  erected  for  the  purpose,)  upon  the  schooner 
Caroline.  She,  it  will  be  recollected,  on  the  night 
of  the  23d  had  dropped  down  opposite  the  enemy's 
lines,  and  it  had  been  impossible  since  to  warp  her 
up  again,  and  although  she  could  easily  have  been 
carried  down  the  river  until  under  the  protection  of 
one  of  the  forts,  yet  it  had  been  thought  better  to 
keep  her  where  she  lay,  (on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,)  and  wait  the  chances  of  a  favourable  wind  to 
carry  her  up. 

The  enemv,  however,  succeeded  in  lodging  a  red- 
hot  shot  in  her  hold,  which  set  her  on  fire,  and  she 
being  abandoned,  shortly  after  blew  up. 

Gathering  confidence  from  the  destruction  of  the 
Caroline,  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  enemy 
(now  increased  in  numbers  and  commanded  in 
person  by  Major-General  Sir  Edward  Packenham,) 
advanced  to  storm  our  works.  They  were,  however, 
defeated  in  the  engagement,  with  the  loss  of  oyer 


124  LIFE     OF 

one  hundred  killed,  while  the  loss  upon  our  side  was 
only  eight  or  ten. 

A  supposed  disaffection  in  New  Orleans,  and  an 
enemy  in  front,  were  circumstances  well  calculated 
to  excite  unpleasant  forebodings.  General  Jackson 
believed  it  necessary  and  essential  to  his  security, 
while  contending  with  avowed  foes,  not  to  be  wholly 
nattentive  to  danger  lurking  at  home;  but  by  guard- 
ing vigilantly,  to  be  able  to  suppress  any  treasonable 
purpose  the  moment  it  should  be  developed,  and  it 
should  have  time  to  mature.  Treason  to  their 
country,  however,  first  made  its  appearance  in  the 
very  place  where  it  should  have  been  last  in  showing 
itself — in  the  halls  of  the  legislature. 

Jackson,  hearing  that  this  body  were  contem- 
plating to  surrender  the  city  in  case  of  an  emer- 
gency, ordered  Governor  Claiborne  to  shut  them  up 
in  the  hall,  so  that  their  deliberations  should  not 
affect  the  people  ;  but  Claiborne,  mistaking  the  order, 
instead  of  shutting  them  up  turned  them  out,  and 
thus  practically  dissolved  that  body. 

Before  this  he  had  been  called  on  by  a  special 
committee  of  the  legislature  to  know  what  his 
course  would  be  should  necessity  force  him  from 
his  position.  "  If,"  replied  the  General,  "  I  thought 
the  hair  of  my  head  could  divine  what  I  should  do 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  125 

forthwith,  I  would  cut  it  off;  go  back  with  this 
answer;  say  to  your  honourable  body,  that  if  dis- 
aster does  overtake  me,  and  the  fate  of  war  drives 
me  from  my  line  to  the  city,  they  may  expect  to  have 
a  very  warm  session." — "And  what  did  you  design 
to  do,"  I  inquired,  "  provided  you  had  been  forced 
to  retreat  ?" — "I  should,"  he  replied,  "have  retreated 
to  the  city,  fired  it,  and  fought  the  enemy  amid  the 
surrounding  flames.  There  were  with  me  men  of 
wealth,  owners  of  considerable  property,  who,  in 
such  an  event,  would  have  been  among  the  foremost 
to  have  applied  the  torch  to  their  own  buildings; 
and  what  they  had  left  undone  I  should  have  com- 
pleted. Nothing  for  the  comfortable  maintenance 
of  the  enemy  would  have  heen  left  in  the  rear.  I 
would  have  destroyed  New  Orleans — occupied  a 
position  above  on  the  river — cut  off  all  supplies,  and 
in  this  way  compelled  them  to  depart  from  the 
country." 

The  British  admiral  on  the  lakes,  solicitous  to 
ascertain  the  number  and  position  of  Jackson's 
army,  resorted  to  various  means  to  obtain  this  in- 
formation from  two  gentlemen,  Mr.  Shields  and 
Doctor  Murrell,  who  (although  bearing  a  flan-  of 
truce,)  had  been  taken  prisoners  on  the  14th. 

Shields  was  perceived  to  be  quite  deaf,  and  calcu- 


126  L  I  F  E     O  F 

lating  on  some  advantage  to  be  derived  from  this 
circumstance,  he  and  the  Doctor  were  placed  at 
night  in  the  green-room,  where  any  conversation 
which  occurred  between  them  could  readily  be 
heard.  Suspecting,  perhaps,  something  of  the  kind, 
after  having  retired,  and  everything  was  seemingly 
still,  they  began  to  speak  of  their  situation — the 
circumstance  of  their  being  detained,  and  of  the 
prudent  caution  with  which  they  had  guarded  them- 
selves against  communicating  any  information  to 
the  British  admiral.  But,  continued  Shields,  how 
greatly  these  gentlemen  will  be  disappointed  in  their 
expectations,  for  Jackson,  with  the  twenty  thousand 
troops  he  now  has,  and  the  reinforcements  from 
Kentucky,  which  must  speedily  reach  him,  will  be 
able  to  destroy  any  force  that  can  be  landed  from 
these  ships.  Every  word  was  heard  and  treasured, 
and  not  supposing  there  was  any  design,  or  that  he 
presumed  himself  overheard,  they  were  beguiled  by 
it,  and  at  once  concluded  our  force  to  be  as  great 
as  it  was  represented;  and  hence, "no  doubt,  arose 
the  reason  of  that  prudent  care  and  caution  with 
which  the  enemy  afterward  proceeded ;  for  "  no- 
thing," remarked  a  British  officer,  at  the  close  of 
the   invasion,   "  was  kept  a  secret  from  us  excepf 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  127 

yovir  numbers  ;  this,  although  diligently  sought  after 
could  never  be  procured." 

Every  precaution  was  adopted  to  prevent  any  com- 
munication by  which  the  slightest  intelligence  should 
be  had  of  our  situation,  already  indeed  sufficiently 
deplorable.  Additional  guards  were  posted  along 
the  swamp,  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  to  arrest 
all  intercourse ;  while  on  the  river,  the  common 
highway,  watch-boats  were  constantly  plying  during 
the  night,  in  different  directions,  so  that  a  log  could 
scarcely  float  down  the  stream  unperceived.  Two 
flat-bottomed  boats,  on  a  dark  night,  were  turned 
adrift  above,  to  ascertain  if  vigilance  were  preserved, 
and  whether  there  would  be  any  possibility  of  es- 
caping the  guards  and  passing  in  safety  to  the 
British  lines.  The  light  boats  discovered  them  on 
their  passage,  and  on  the  alarm  being  given,  they 
were  opened  upon  by  the  Louisiana  sloop,  and  the 
batteries  on  the  shore,  and  in  a  few  minutes  were 
sunk.  In  spite,  however,  of  every  precaution, 
treason  still  discovered  avenues  through  which  to 
project  and  execute  her  nefarious  plans,  and  through 
them  was  constantly  afforded  information  to  the 
enemy  ;  carried  to  them,  no  doubt,  by  adventurous 
friends,  who  sought  and  effected  their  nightly  pas- 


V2S  L  I  F  E     O  F 

sage  through  the  deepest  parts  of  the  swamp,  where 
it  was  impossible  for  sentinels  to  be  stationed. 

Frequent  light  skirmishes  by  advanced  parties, 
without  material  effect  on  either  side,  were  the  only 
incidents  that  took  place  for  several  days.     , 

Upon  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  January,  however, 
the  enemy,  who  for  three  days  had  been  engaged  in 
erecting  batteries,  made  another  attack  upon  our 
fortifications.  They  were  obliged,  however,  to  re- 
tire, and  their  batteries  having  failed  to  make  a 
breach,  were  silenced  and  rendered  useless  by  the 
American  cannon.  The  enemy  in  this  affair  lost 
about  seventy  men,  while  our  loss  was  only  eleven 
killed. 

The  enemy's  heavy  shot  having  penetrated  our 
intrenchment  in  many  places,  it  was  discovered  no* 
to  be  as  strong  as  had  at  first  been  imagined.  Fa 
tigue  parties  were  again  employed,  and  its  strength 
daily  increased  :  an  additional  number  of  bales  of 
cotton  were  taken  to  be  applied  to  strengthening 
and  defending  the  embrasures  along  the  line.  A 
Frenchman,  whose  property  had  been  thus,  without 
his  consent,  seized,  fearful  of  the  injury  it  might 
sustain,  proceeded  in  person  to  General  Jackson  to 
reclaim  it,  and  to  demand  its  delivery.     The  Gen- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  129 

cral,  having  heard  his  complaint,  and  ascertained 
from  him  that  he  was  unemployed  in  any  military- 
service,  directed  a  musket  to  be  brought  to  him, 
and  placing  it  in  his  hand,  ordered  him  on  the  line, 
remarking,  at  the  same  time,  that  as  he  seemed  to 
be  a  man  possessed  of  property,  he  knew  of  none 
who  had  a  better  right  to  fight  and  to  defend  it. 


130 


LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER  XX. 

BATTLE    OF    THE    EIGHTH    OF    JANUARY;    iSi^. 

N  the  4th  of  this  month,  the  long  ex- 

pected  reinforcement  from  Kentucky, 

amounting  to   2250  men,  under  the 

command  of  Major-general  Thomas, 

arrived  at  head-quarters ;  but  so  ill  provided 

with   arms  as  to  be  incapable  of  rendering 

any  considerable  service. 

Information  was  now  received  that  Major- 
general  Lambert  had  joined  the  British  commander- 
in-chief  with  a  considerable  reinforcement.  It  had 
been  heretofore  announced  in  the  American  camp 
that  additional  forces  were  expected,  and  something 
decisive  might  be  looked  for  as  soon  as  they  should 
arrive.  This  circumstance,  in  connexion  with  others 
no  less  favouring  the  idea,  had  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  a  few  days  more  would,  in  all  probability,  bring 
on  the  struggle  which  would  decide  the  fate  of  the 
city.     It   was   more  than    ever  necessary  to   keep 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  131 

concealed  the  situation  of  his  army ;  and,  above  all, 
to  preserve  as  secret  as  possible  its  unarmed  condi- 
tion. To  restrict  all  communication  even  with  his 
own  lines,  was  now,  as  danger  increased,  rendered 
more  important.  None  were  permitted  to  leave  the 
line,  and  none  from  without  to  pass  into  his  camp, 
but  such  as  were  to  be  implicitly  confided  in.'  The 
line  of  sentinels  was  strengthened  in  front,  that 
none  might  pass  to  the  enemy,  should  desertion  be 
attempted :  yet,  notwithstanding  this  precaution  and 
care,  his  plans  and  situation  were  disclosed.  On 
the  night  of  the  6th  of  January,  a  soldier  from  the 
line  by  some  means  succeeded  in  eluding  the  vigi- 
lance of  our  sentinels.  Early  next  morning  his 
departure  was  discovered:  it  was  at  once  correctly 
conjectured  he  had  gone  over  to  the  enemy,  and 
would,  no  doubt,  afford  them  all  the  information  in 
his  power  to  communicate.  This  opinion,  as  subse- 
quent circumstances  disclosed,  was  well  founded : 
and  dearly  did  he  atone  for  his  crime.  He  unfolded 
to  the  British  the  situation  of  the  American  line,  the 
late  reinforcements  we  had  received,  and  the  un- 
armed condition  of  many  of  the  troops;  and  pointing 
to  the  centre  of  General  Carroll's  division,  as  a  place 
occupied  by  militia  alone,  recommended  it  as  the 


132  LIFE     OF 

point  where  an  attack  might  be  most  prudently  and 
safely  made. 

Everything  was  in  readiness  to  meet  the  assault 
when  it  should  be  made.  The  redoubt  on  the  levee 
was  defended  by  a  company  of  the  seventh  regiment, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Ross.  The 
regular  troops  occupied  that  part  of  the  intrench- 
ment  next  the  river.  General  Carroll's  division  was 
in  the  centre,  supported  by  the  Kentucky  troops, 
under  General  John  Adair;  while  the  extreme  left, 
extending  for  a  considerable  distance  into  the  swamp, 
was  protected  by  the  brigade  of  General  Coffee. 
How  soon  the  attack  wrould  be  waged,  was  uncer- 
tain ;  at  what  moment  rested  with  the  enemy, — 
with  us,  to  be  in  readiness  for  resistance.  There 
were  many  circumstances,  however,  favouring  the 
belief  that  the  hour  of  contest  was  not  far  distant, 
and  indeed  fast  approaching  ;  the  bustle  of  to-day, 
— the  efforts  to  carry  their  boats  into  the  river, — 
the  fascines  and  scaling-ladders  that  were  preparing, 
were  circumstances  pointing  to  attack,  and  indicat- 
ing the  hour  to  be  near  at  hand.  General  Jackson, 
unmoved  by  appearances,  anxiously  desired  a  con- 
test which  he  believed  would  give  a  triumph  to  his 
arms,  and  terminate  the  hardships  of  his  suffering 
soldiers.     Unremitting    in  exertion,  and  constantly 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  133 

rigilant,  his  precaution  kept  pace  with  the  zeal  and 
preparation  of  the  enemy.  He  seldom  slept :  he 
was  always  at  his  post  per  rming  the  duties  both 
of  general  and  soldier.  His  sentinels  were  doubled, 
and  extended  as  far  as  possible  in  the  direction  of 
ihe  British  camp;  while  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  troops  were  constantly  at  the  line,  with  arms  in 
their  hands,  ready  to  act  when  the  first  alarm  should 
be  given. 

For  eight  dnys  had  the  two  armies  lain  upon  the 
same  field  within  sight  of  each  other,  without  any- 
thing decisive  having  been  effected.  The  8th  of 
January  at  length  arrived.  The  day  dawned,  and 
the  signals  intended  to  produce  concert  in  the  en- 
emy's movements  were  descried.  On  the  left,  near 
the  swamp,  a  skyrocket  was  perceived  rising  in  the 
air — it  wras  answered  by  another  on  the  right:  in- 
stantly the  enemy's  charge  was  made,  and  with  such 
rapidity  that  our  outposts  had  hardly  time  to  reach 
the  lines.  The  British  batteries  opened  with  showers 
of  bombs  and  shells,  while  the  air  was  blazing  with 
their  congreve  rockets. 

The  two  divisions,  commanded  by  Sir  Edward 
Packenham  in  person,  and  supported  by  generals 
Keane  and  Gibbs,  pressed  forward  ;  the  right  against 
the  centre  of  General  Carroll's  command,  the  left 


134  LIFE     OF 

against  our  redoubt  on  the  levee.  A  thick  fog  that 
obscured  the  morning  enabled  them  to  approach 
within  a  short  distance  of  our  intrenchment  before 
they  were  discovered.  They  were  now  perceived 
advancing  with  a  firm,  quick,  and  steady  pace,  in 
column,  with  a  front,  of  sixty  or  seventy  deep.  Our 
troops,  who  had  for  some  time  been  in  readiness, 
and  waiting  their  appearance,  gave  three  cheers, 
and  instantly  the  whole  line  was  lighted  with  the 
blaze  of  their  fire.  A  burst  of  artillery  and  small 
arms,  pouring  with  destructive  aim  upon  them, 
mowed  down  their  front,  and  arrested  their  advance. 
In  our  musketry  there  was  not  a  moment's  intermis- 
sion :  as  one  party  discharged  their  pieces,  another 
succeeded;  alternately  loading  and  appearing,  no 
pause  could  be  perceived — it  was  one  continued 
volley.  The  columns  already  perceived  their  dan- 
gerous and  exposed  situation.  Battery  No.  7,  on 
the  left,  was  ably  served  by  Lieutenant  Spotts,  and 
galled  them  with  an  incessant  and  destructive  fire 
Batteries  No.  6  and  8  were  no  less  actively  em- 
ployed, and  no  less  successful  in  felling  them  to  the 
ground.  Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  our  fire, 
which  few  troops  could  for  a  moment  have  withstood, 
some  of  those  brave  men  pressed  on,  and  succeeded 
in  gaining  the  ditch  in  front  of  our  works,  where 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  135 

they  remained  during  the  action,  and  were  afterward 
maie  prisoners.  The  horror  before  them  was  too 
great  to  be  withstood  :  and  already  were  the  British 
troops  seen  wavering  in  their  determination,  and 
receding  from  the  conflict.  At  this  moment,  Sir 
Edward  Packenham,  hastening  to  the  front,  endea- 
voured to  encourage  and  inspire  them  with  renewed 
zeal.  His  example  was  of  short  continuance :  he 
soon  fell  mortally  wounded  in  the  arms  of  his  aid-de- 
camp, not  far  from  our  line.  Generals  Gibbs  and 
Keane  also  fell,  and  were  borne  from  the  field  dan- 
gerously wounded.  At  this  moment,  General  Lam- 
bert, who  was  advancing  at  a  small  distance  in  the 
rear,  with  the  reserve,  met  the  columns  precipitately 
retreating,  and  in  great  confusion.  His  efforts  to 
stop  them  were  unavailing,  they  continued  retreating 
until  they  reached  a  ditch  at  the  distance  of  four 
hundred  yards,  where  a  momentary  safety  being 
found,  they  were  rallied  and  halted. 

The  field  before  them,  over  which  they  had 
advanced,  was  strewed  with  the  dead  and  dying. 
Danger  hovered  still  around;  yet  urged  and  en- 
couraged by  their  officers,  who  feared  their  own 
disgrace  involved  in  the  failure,  they  again  moved 
to  the  charge.  They  were  already  near  enough 
to  deploy,  and  were  endeavouring  to  do  so;  but  the 


136  L  I  F  E     O  F 

same  constant  and  unremitted  resistance  that  caused 
their  first  retreat,  continued  jet  unabated.  Our 
batteries  had  never  ceased  their  fire ;  their  constant 
discharges  of  grape  and  canister,  and  the  fatal  aim 
of  our  musketry,  mowed  down  the  front  of  the 
columns  as  fast  as  they  could  be  formed.  Satisfied 
nothing  could  be  done,  and  that  certain  destruction 
awaited  all  further  attempts,  they  forsook  the  contest 
and  the  field  in  disorder,  leaving  it  almost  entirely 
covered  with  the  dead  and  wounded.  It  was  in  vain 
their  officers  endeavoured  to  animate  them  to  further 
efforts,  and  equally  vain  to  attempt  coercion.  The 
panic  produced  from  the  dreadful  repulse  they  had 
experienced,  the  plain  on  which  they  had  acted  being 
covered  with  innumerable  bodies  of  their  country- 
men, while  with  their  most  zealous  exertions  the)/ 
had  been  unable  to  obtain  the  slightest  advantage, 
were  circumstances  well  calculated  to  make  even 
the  most  submissive  soldier  oppose  the  authority 
that  would  have  controlled  him. 

The  light  companies  of  fusileers,  the  forty-third 
and  ninety-third  regiments,  and  one  hundred  men 
from  the  West  India  regiment,  led  on  by  Colonel 
Rennie,  succeeded  in  gaining  possession  of  a  redoubt 
on  the  bank  of  the  river.  Rennie  had  reached  the 
works,  and  leaping  on  the  wall,  sword  in  hand,  called 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  13*7 

upon  his  men  to  follow  him;  he  had  scarcely  spoken 
when  he  fell  by  the  fatal  aim  of  a  rifleman.  Jackson, 
hearing  that  the  redoubt  was  in  possession  of  the 
enemy,  sent  a  detachment  instantly  to  retake  it. 
Before  its  arrival,  however,  the  enemy  had  aban- 
doned it,  and  were  retiring.  They  were  severely 
galled  by  such  of  our  guns  as  could  be  brought  to 
bear.  The  levee  afforded  them  considerable  pro- 
tection ;  yet,  by  Commodore  Patterson's  redoubt  on 
the  right  bank,  they  suffered  greatly.  Enfiladed  by 
this  on  their  advance,  they  had  been  greatly  annoyed, 
and  now  in  their  retreat  were  no  less  severely  as- 
sailed. Numbers  found  a  grave  in  the  ditch  before 
our  line  ;  and  of  those  who  gained  the  redoubt,  not 
one  it  is  believed  escaped  ;  they  were  shot  down  as 
fast  as  they  entered.  The  route  along  which  they 
had  advanced  and  retired  was  strewed  with  bodies. 
Affrighted  at  the  carnage,  they  moved  from  the 
scene  hastily  and  in  confusion.  Our  batteries  were 
still  continuing  the  slaughter,  and  cutting  them  down 
at  every  step;  safety  seemed  only  to  be  attainable 
when  they  should  have  retired  without  the  range  of 
our  shot;  which,  to  troops  galled  as  severely  as  they 
were,  was  too  remote  a  relief.  Pressed  by  this 
consideration,  they  fled    to  the  ditch,  whither   thu 


138  LIFE     OF 

riffht  division  had  retreated,  and  there  remained 
until  night  permitted  them  to  retire. 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  the  8th,  one  of  the  most 
glorious,  as  well  as  the  most  important  in  its  results, 
that  has  ever  been  fought  upon  American  soil. 

The  loss  of  the  British  in  the  main  attack  on  thi1 
bft  bank  has  been  at  different  times  variously  stated. 
The  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  ascertained  on 
the  next  day  after  the  battle  by  Colonel  Hayne,  the 
inspector-general,  places  it  at  2600.  General  Lam- 
bert's report  to  Lord  Bathurst  makes  it  but  2070. 
From  prisoners,  however,  and  information  and  cir- 
cumstances derived  through  other  sources,  it  must 
have  been  even  greater  than  is  stated  by  either. 
Among  them  was  the  commander-in-chief,  and  Ma- 
jor-general Giubs,  who  died  of  his  wounds  the  next 
day,  besides  many  of  their  most  valuable  and  distin- 
guished officers ;  while  the  loss  of  the  Americans  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  but  thirteen.  Our  effective 
force  at  the  line  on  the  left  bank  was  3700,  while 
that  of  the  enemy  was  not  less  than  9000. 

Never  were  officers  more  deceived  than  the  Brit- 
ish in  the  result  of  this  battle.  They  had  no  belief 
that  militia  could  withstand  the  attack  of  a  regular 
army.  One  fact  is  told  which  confirms  this.  When 
repulsed  from  our  line,  they  were  fully  persuaded 


Battle  of  New  Orleans. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  139 

that  the  information  given  hy  the  deserter,  on  the 
night  of  the  6th,  was  false,  and  that,  instead  of 
pointing  out  the  ground  defended  by  our  militia,  he 
had  shown  thein  the  place  occupied  by  our  best 
troops.  Enraged  at  what  they  believed  an  inten- 
tional deception,  they  called  their  informant  before 
them  to  account  for  the  mischief  he  had  done.  It 
was  in  vain  he  urged  his  innocence,  and,  with  the 
most  solemn  protestations,  declared  he  had  stated 
the  fact  truly  as  it  was.  They  could  not  be  con- 
vinced,— it  was  impossible  that  they  had  contended 
-against  any  but  the  best-disciplined  troops;  and, 
without  further  ceremony,  the  poor  fellow,  suspended 
in  view  of  the  camp,  expiated  on  a  tree,  not  his 
crime,  for  what  he  had  stated  was  true,  but  their 
error  in  underrating  an  enemy  who  had  already 
lfforded  abundant  evidences  of  valour.  In  all  their 
future  trials  with  our  countrymen,  may  they  be  no 
less  deceived,  and  discover  in  our  yeomanry  a  de- 
termination to  sustain  with  firmness  a  government 
which  knows  nothing  of  oppression  ;  but  which,  on 
an  enlarged  and  liberal  scale,  aims  to  secure  the  in- 
dependence and  happiness  of  man.  If  the  people 
of  the  United  States, — free  almost  as  the  air  they 
breathe, — shall  at  any  lime  omit  to  maintain  their 
Drivileges  and  their  government,  then,  indeed,  will 


1 40  LIFE     OF 

it  be  idle  longer  to  speak  of  the  rights  of  men,  or  of 
their  capacity  to  govern  themselves :  the  dream  of 
liberty  must  fade  away  and  perish  for  ever,  no  more 
to  be  remembered  or  thought  of. 

After  the  battle  of  the  8th  of  January,  Jackson 
3ould  have  captured  every  man  of  the  British  force 
hat  was  upon  the  land,  if  he  had  been  supplied  with 
arms,  according  to  his  owrn  repeated  urgent  requests, 
and  agreeably  to  the  promises  that  were  m;ide  hira. 
Not  having  arms,  he  was  compelled  to  let  the  re- 
mainder of  the  "  heroes  of  the  Peninsula"  escape. 
The  British  embarked  their  remaining  forces,  and  . 
sailed  away  from  the  shores  which  had  witnessed 
their  sanguinary  defeat.  Enthusiastic  rejoicings 
enlivened  the  city  of  New  Orleans  for  many  succes« 
Bive  days. 


ANDREW     JACK30N. 


141 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


NEW  ORLEANS  AFTER  THE  BATTLE. 


HOUGH  the  enemy  had  withdrawn 
from  New  Orleans  in  the  manner 
which  has  been  stated,  Jackson  could 
not  be  sure  that  they  would  not  re- 
Against  this  contingency,  he  prepared 
himself  by  cautious  arrangements  in  the  dis- 
tribution of  his  force  and  the  construction  of 
new  defences  at  assailable  points,  before  he 
returned  to  New  Orleans.  In  that  city  he  was 
received  as  a  deliverer — every  mind  was  kindled  to 
enthusiasm  from  the  consideration  of  the  evils  which 
he  had  averted,  as  well  as  of  the  victories  which  he 
had  gained.  The  most  solemn  and  lively  demon- 
strations of  public  respect  and  gratitude  succeeded 
each  other  daily,  until  the  period  of  his  departure 
for  Nashville,  soon  after  the  annunciation  of  the 
peace  concluded  at  Ghent,  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States. 


142  LIFE     OF 

Though  honoured  and  cherished  by  the  largei 
part  of  the  citizens  of  New  Orleans,  lie  was  not 
without  occasion  to  display  the  energy  and  decision 
of  his  character,  in  a  way  that  favoured  the  ends  of 
jealousy  and  detraction.  Anonymous  .articles,  cal- 
culated to  excite  mutiny  among  his  troops,  and 
afford  the  enemy  dangerous  intelligence,  (for  it  must 
be  recollected  that  the  British  commander  did  not 
take  his  final  leave  of  Louisiana  until  the  18th,  and 
was  still  in  the  neighbourhood,)  appeared  at  this 
time,  in  one  of  the  newspapers  of  New  Orleans. 
Jackson  caused  the  author  of  the  articles  to  be  re- 
vealed to  him  by  the  editor  of  the  paper,  when  he 
found  that  the  traitor  was  no  less  a  personage  than 
one  of  the  members  of  the  State  Legislature.  This, 
however,  did  not  hinder  Jackson  from  causing  his 
immediate  arrest  and  imprisonment.  Application 
was  made  to  one  of  the  judges  for  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpus,  which  was  immediately  granted  and  issued. 
We  have  already  mentioned  that  Jackson  arrested 
the  judge.  We  now  advert  again  to  this  incident, 
in  order  to  relate  what  followed.  The  General  had 
not  yet  raised  the  edict  of  martial  law,  (which  he 
had  been  obliged  to  impose  on  the  city  upon  under- 
taking its  defence,)  there  being,  as  yet,  no  certain 
intelligence   that   the   enemy  had    taken  their   de- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  143 

parture,  and  the  news  of  the  peace  of  Ghent  not  yet 
having  reached  New  Orleans.  Within  a  few  days, 
the  cessation  of  hostilities  was  announced  officially. 
The  judge  was  restored  to  his  post,  and  the  exercise 
of  his  functions.  Without  loss  of  time  a  rule  of 
court  was  granted  for  General  Jackson  to  appear 
and  show  cause  why  an  attachment  for  contempt 
should  not  issue,  on  the  ground  that  he  had  refused 
to  obey  a  writ,  and  imprisoned  the  organ  of  the  law 
He  did  not  hesitate  to  appear  and  submit  a  full  and 
very  able  answer,  justifying  his  proceedings.  After 
argument  before  the  court,  the  rule  was  made  abso- 
lute ;  an  attachment  sued  out,  and  Jackson  brought 
up  to  answer  interrogatories.  He  declined  answer- 
ing them,  but  asked  for  the  sentence,  which  the 
judge  then  proceeded  to  pass.  It  was  a  fine  of  one 
thousand  dollars.  The  spectators  who  crowded  the 
hall,  betrayed  the  strongest  indignation.  As  soon 
as  he  entered  his  carriage,  it  was  seized  by  the 
people,  and  drawn  by  them  to  the  coffee-house,  amid 
the  acclamations  of  a  large  concourse.  When  he 
arrived  at  his  quarters,  he  put  the  amount  of  his  fine 
into  the  hands  of  his  aid-de-camp,  and  caused  it  to 
be  discharged  without  delay.  He  was  scarce!} 
beforehand  with  the  citizens,  who  in  a  short  time 
raised  the  sum  among  themselves  by  contribution 


144  LIFE     OP 

and  were  anxious  to  be  permitted  to  testify  at  once 
their  gratitude  and  shame.  What  was  thus  col- 
lected w7as  appropriated  at  his  request  to  a  charita- 
ble institution.  He  enjoyed  the  consciousness  that 
the  powers  which  the  exigency  of  the  times  forced 
him  to  assume,  had  been  exercised  exclusively  for 
the  public  good,  and  that  they  had  saved  the  country. 
In  1821,  the  corporation  of  New  Orleans  voted  Jifty 
thousand  dollars  for  erecting  a  marble  statue  appro- 
priate to  his  military  services.  The  same  body 
gave  also  one  thousand  dollars  for  a  portrait  of  him, 
painted  by  Mr.  Earle  of  Nashville.  And  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States,  in  the  session  of  1844-5. 
thirty  years  after  the  injury  was  inflicted,  made 
ample  and  honourable  restitution,  by  voting  that  the 
amount  of  the  fine,  with  interest  in  full,  should  be 
reimbursed  to  General  Jackson. 


NDREW     JACKSON. 


115 


CHAPTER  XXTI. 


SEMINOLE     CAMPAIGN. 


N  the  month  of  March,  General  JacK- 
son  returned  once  more  to  his  home 
in  Tennessee,  carrying  with  him  tne 
grateful   regrets  and  kind  regards  of 

^2Sj   tne  PeoP'e  °f  Louisiana. 

fOn  his  return  to  Nashville  (a  journey  of 
eight  hundred  miles)  he  saw  on  every  side 
marks  of  exultation  and  delight.  It  must  be 
within  the  memory  of  most  of  our  elder  readers, 
what  was  the  sensation  produced  throughout  the 
union  by  the  tidings  from  New  Orleans,  and  what 
the  popular  enthusiasm  concerning  the  merits  of 
"  Old  Hickory." 

For  two  years  afterwards  he  remained  on  his 
farm,  retaining  his  rank  in  the  army  ;  but  chiefly 
occupied  with  rural  pleasures  and  labours.  In  this 
interval  the  portion  of  the  Seminoles  who  were 
driven  into  Florida,  combining  with  fugitive  negroes 


146  LIFE     OF 

from  the  adjoining  states,  and  instigated  by  British 
adventurers,  whose  objects  were  blood  and  rapine, 
became  formidable  in  numbers  and  hardihood,  anc1 
began  to  execute  schemes  of  robbery  and  vengeance 
against  the  Americans  of  the  frontiers.  It  having 
been  represented  to  the  American  government  that 
murders  had  been  committed  on  our  defenceless 
citizens,  General  Gaines,  the  acting  commander  in 
the  southern  district,  was  ordered,  in  the  summer  of 
1817,  with  a  considerable  force,  to  take  a  station 
near  the  borders  for  their  protection.  He  was  ai 
first  directed  to  keep  within  the  territorial  limits  of 
the  United  States,  and  abstain  from  every  attempt 
to  cross  the  Florida  line ;  but  to  demand  of  the  In- 
dians the  perpetrators  of  the  crimes  thus  committed, 
without  involving  the  innocent,  and  without  a  gen- 
eral rupture  with  the  deluded  savages. 

Murders  having  been  ascertained  to  have  been 
committed,  attended  with  aggravating  circumstances 
of  rapine  and  cruelty,  General  Gaines  made  the  de- 
mand, in  conformity  with  his  orders.  The  savages. 
however,  deceived  by  the  representations  of  certain 
foreign  incendiaries  and  traders,  who  were  among 
them,  and  who  tanght  them  to  believe  that  they 
would  receive  assistance  and  encouragement  from 
the  British,  not  only  refused   to  give  up  the  mur- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  147 

}erers,  but  repeated  their  massacres  whenever  an 
opportunity  offered.  While  these  things  were  going 
on,  news  readied  the  government  that  Lieutenant 
Scott,  an  officer  acting  under  General  Gaines,  with 
forty-seven  persons,  men,  women,  and  children,  in  a 
boat  on  the  Apalachicola  River,  about  two  miles 
below  the  junction  of  the  Flint  and  Chattahoochie, 
were  surprised  by  an  ambuscade  of  Indians,  fired 
upon,  and  the  whole  detachment  killed  or  captured, 
except  six  men,  who  contrived  to  escape  by  flight. 
Those  who  were  taken  alive  were  wantonly  butch- 
ered after  their  capture  by  the  ferocious  savages, 
who  seized  the  little  children,  and  dashed  their 
brains  out  against  the  side  of  the  boat,  murdering 
all  the  helpless  females,  except  one,  who  was  after- 
wards retaken. 

The  government,  on  the  receipt  of  this  news,  saw 
at  once  the  necessity  of  adopting  energetic  measures, 
and  immediately  issued  orders  to  General  Jackson 
to  repair  to  Fort  Scott,  and  take  the  command  of 
the  forces  in  that  quarter,  with  authority  in  case  he 
should  deem  it  necessary,  to  call  upon  the  executives 
of  the  adjoining  states  for  additional  troops.  They 
also  authorized  him  to  cross  the  Florida  line  if  ne- 
cessary to  the  execution  of  his  orders.     Florida,  ii 


148  L  I  F  E     O  F 

must  be  recollected,  "was  still  in  possession  of  the 
Spaniards. 

He  was  referred  to  the  previous  orders  to  Genera) 
Gaines,  and  directed  to  concentrate  his  forces,  and 
adopt  "measures  necessary  to  terminate  a  conflict 
which  had  been  avoided  from  considerations  of 
humanity,  but  which  had  now  become  indispensable 
from  the  settled  hostility  of  the  savage  enemy."  In 
January  following,  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  a  letter 
to  General  Gaines,  said,  "The  honour  of  the  United 
States  requires  that  the  war  with  the  Seminoles 
should  be  terminated  speedily,  and  with  exemplary 
punishment  for  hostilities  so  unprovoked."  Under 
these  orders,  and  in  this  critical  state  of  affairs, 
General  Jackson,  having  first  collected  Tennessee 
volunteers,  with  that  zeal  and  promptness  which 
have  ever  marked  his  career,  repaired  to  the  post 
assigned,  and  assumed  the  command.  The  necessity 
of  crossing  the  line  into  Florida  was  no  longer  a 
subject  of  doubt.  A  large  force  of  Indians  and 
negroes  had  made  that  territory  their  refuge,  and 
the  Spanish  authority  was  either  too  weak  or  too 
indifferent  to  restrain  them ;  and  to  comply  with 
orders  given  him  from  the  department  of  war,  he 
penetrated  immediately  into  the  Seminole  towns, 
dr'.ving  the  enemy  before  him,  and  reduced  them  to 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  149 

ashes.  In  tht  council-house  of  the  king  of  the  Mick- 
asukians,  more  than  fifty  fresh  scalps,  and  in  an 
adjacent  house,  upwards  of  three  hundred  scalps,  of 
all  ages  and  sexes,  were  found ;  and  in  the  centre 
of  the  public  square  a  red  pole  was  erected,  crowned 
with  scalps,  known  by  the  hair  to  have  belonged  to 
the  companions  of  Lieutenant  Scott. 

To  inflict  merited  punishment  upon  these  barba- 
rians, and  to  prevent  a  repetition  of  these  massacres, 
by  bringing  the  war  to  a  speedy  and  successful  ter- 
mination, he  pursued  his  march  to  St.  Marks :  there 
he  found,  conformably  to  previous  information,  that 
the  Indians  and  negroes  had  demanded  the  surrender 
of  the  post  to  them  ;  and  that  the  Spanish  garrison, 
according  to  the  commandant's  own  acknowledge- 
ment,  was  too  weak  to  support  it.  He  ascertained 
also  that  the  enemy  had  been  supplied  with  the 
means  of  carrying  on  the  war,  from  the  commandant 
of  the  post;  that  foreign  incendiaries,  instigating 
the  savages,  had  free  communication  with  the  fort : 
councils  of  war  were  permitted  by  the  commandant 
.o  be  held  by  the  chiefs  and  warriors  within  his  own 
quarters  —  the  Spanish  store-houses  were  appro- 
priated to  the  use  of  the  hostile  party,  and  actually 
filled  with  goods  belonging  to  them,  and  property 
known  to  have  been   plundered   from  American  citi« 


]  50  L  I  F  E     O  F 

zens,  was  purchased  from  them  by  the  commandant, 
while  ne  professed  friendship  to  the  United  States. 
General  Jackson,  therefore,  did  not  hesitate  to  de- 
mand of  the  commandant  of  St.  Marks,  the  surrender 
of  that  post  that  it  might  be  garrisoned  by  an  Amer- 
ican force,  and,  when  the  Spanish  officer  hesitated, 
he  entered  the  fort  by  force,  though  without  blood- 
shed, the  enemy  having  fled,  and  the  garrison  being 
too  weak  to  make  opposition.  From  this  place  he 
marched  upon  Suwaney,  seized  the  stores  of  the 
enemy  and  burnt  their  villages. 

A  variety  of  circumstances  now  convinced  Gen- 
eral Jackson  that  the  savages  had  commenced  the 
war,  and  persisted  in  their  barbarity.  He  also  ar- 
rested at  St.  Marks  several  of  the  British  incendia- 
ries who  had  excited  them  to  hostilities.  One  Alex- 
ander Arbuthnot,  who  was  an  Indian  trader,  was 
taken  at  St.  Marks,  where  he  had  been  livino-  an 
inmate  in  the  family  of  the  commandant.  He  was 
tried  by  a  court  of'enquiry  of  thirteen  respectable 
officers,  and  sentenced  to  be  hung,  which  sentence 
was  immediately  carried  into  execution. 

Robert  Ambrister,  formerly  a  lieutenant  in  the 
British  marine  corps,  was  also  tried ;  and  it  having 
been  proved  that  he  had  not  only  encouraged  and 
assisted  the  hostile  savages,  but  had  also  led  them, 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  151 

ne  was  sentenced  by  the  court  to  receive  fifty 
stripes,  and  to  be  confined,  with  a  ball  and  chain, 
to  hard  labour  for  twelve  calender  months.  General 
Jackson,  however,  disapproved  of  this  sentence, 
which  he  did  not  think  sufficiently  severe,  and  the 
case  being  reconsidered,  Arnbrister  was  sentenced 
to  be  shot,  which  sentence  was  carried  into  execution 
fo/thwith. 

Having  thus  far  effected  his  objects,  General 
Jackson  considered  the  war  at  an  end.  St.  Marks 
being  garrisoned  by  an  American  force  ;  the  Indian 
towns  of  Mickasuky  and  Suwaney  destroyed;  the 
two  Indian  chiefs  who  had  been  the  prime  movers 
and  leaders  of  the  savages,  one  of  whom  commanded 
the  party  that  murdered  Lieutenant  Scott  and  his 
companions,  and  the  two  principal  foreign  instiga- 
tors, Arbuthnot  and  Arnbrister,  having  been  taken 
and  executed,  the  American  commander  ordered  the 
Georgia  militia,  who  had  joined  him,  to  be  dis- 
charged, and  was  about  to  return  himself  to  Ten- 
nessee. But  he  soon  learned  that  the  Indians  and 
negroes  were  collecting  in  bands  west  of  the  Appa 
lachicola,  which  would  render  it  necessary  for  him 
to  send  a  detachment  to  scour  the  country  in  that 
quarter.  While  preparing  for  this  object,  he  was 
informed  that  the  Indians  were  admitted  freely  by 


1  52  L  I  F  E     O  F 

the  governor  of  Pensacola  ;  that  they  were  collecting 
in  large  numbers,  five  hundred  being  in  Pensacola 
on  the  15th  of  April,  many  of  whom  were  known  to 
be  hostile,  and  had  just  escaped  from  the  pursuit  of 
our  troops,  that  the  enemy  were  furnished  with 
ammunition  and  supplies,  and  received  intelligence 
of  the  movements  of  our  forces,  from  that  place ; 
that  a  number  of  them  had  sallied  out  and  murdered 
eighteen  of  our  citizens,  settlers  upon  the  Alabama, 
and  were  immediately  received  by  the  governor,  and 
by  him  transported  across  the  bay,  that  they  might 
elude  pursuit. 

These  facts  being  ascertained  by  General  Jackson 
from  unquestionable  authority,  he  immediately  took 
up  his  line  of  march  towards  Pensacola,  at  the  head 
of  a  detachment  of  about  1200  men,  for  the  purpose 
of  counteracting  the  views  of  the  enemy.  On  the 
18th  of  May,  he  crossed  the  Appalachicola  at  the 
Ocheese  village,  with  the  view  of  scouring  the 
country  west  of  that  river:  and,  on  the  23d  of  the 
same  month,  he  received  a  communication  from  the 
governor  of  West  Florida,  protesting  against  his 
entrance  into  that  province,  commanding  him  to 
retire  from  it,  and  declaring  that  he  would  repel 
force  by  force,  if  he  should  not  obey.  This  com- 
munication, together  with  other  indications  of  hos- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  153 

tility  in  the  governor,  who  had  been  well  advised  of 
the  object  of  General  Jackson's  operations,  deter- 
mined the  measures  to  be  pursued.  He  marched 
directly  to  Pensacola,  and  took  possession  of  that 
place  the  following  day,  the  governor  having  fled  to 
Fort  Carlos  de  Barrancas;  which  post,  after  a  feeble 
resistance,  surrendered  on  the  28th.  By  these 
events,  the  Indians  and  fugitive  negroes  were  de- 
prived  of  all  means  of  continuing  their  depredations, 
or  screening  themselves  from  the  arm  of  justice. 

There  were,  however,  scattered  and  marauding 
parties ;  and,  to  prevent  these  from  making  inroads 
on  the  frontier  settlers,  Jackson  ordered  a  couple 
of  volunteer  companies  to  scour  the  country  between 
the  Mobile  and  Appalachicola  rivers. 

Thus  ended  the  campaign  of  the  Seminole  war, 
which,  though  not  distinguished  by  any  heavy 
battles,  was,  nevertheless,  a  most  arduous  and  ex- 
hausting species  of  warfare. 


154  LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

JACKSON    AFTER    THE    SEMINOLE    CAMPAIGN. 

ACKSON  returned  to  Nashville,  from 
the  Seminole  campaign,  in  June,  1818, 
and  retired  to  his  quiet  Hermitage. 
New  acknowledgements  and  new 
marks  of  admiration,  poured  in  upon  him 
from  all  sides.  If  the  general  government 
deemed  it  expedient  to  restore  to  the  Span- 
iards the  posts  of  St.  Marks  and  Pensacola, 
they,  nevertheless,  applauded  and  defended  what  he 
had  done.  The  British  cabinet,  moreover,  approved 
of  the  treatment  of  Arbuthnot  and  Ambrister,  who 
had  acted  contrary  to  the  laws  of  nations  and  of 
humanity.  The  conduct  of  the  Tennessee  warrior 
was,  however,  destined  to  be  most  vehemently  ar- 
raigned in  another  quarter, — in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives; where  a  motion  was  made  to  condemn 
these  acts  of  the  Seminole  war;  the  motion  was, 
however,  triumphantly  rejected  by  a  majority  of  the 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  155 

House.  A  most  eloquent  orator  proclaiming  tha 
»'  he  most  cheerfully  acquitted  General  Jackson  of 
any  intention  to  violate  the  laws  of  his  country  or 
the  obligations  of  humanity."  Whoever  studies 
Jackson's  ample  despatches  in  the  campaign,  and 
the  speeches  delivered  in  his  behalf,  must  be  con- 
vinced that  he  did  neither,  and  that  in  making  an 
example  of  the  two  instigators  and  confederates  of 
the  savages,  and  seizing  upon  fortresses  which  were 
only  used  for  hostile  purposes,  he  avenged  and 
served  the  cause  of  humanity,  and  the  highest  na- 
tional interests. 

His  desire  of  explaining  his  transactions  in  person, 
to  the  government,  and  defending  himself  on  every 
side,  carried  him  to  Washington  at  this  period. 
Thence  he  came  to  Philadelphia,  and  proceeded  to 
New  York.  Wherever  he  appeared,  crowds  at- 
tended with  unceasing  plaudits.  In  each  of  these 
cities  public  dinners  and  balls  were  given  in  his 
honour;  military  escorts  provided;  addresses  deliv- 
ered by  deputations ;  and  to  these  his  answers  were 
uniformly  pertinent  and  dignified.  At  New  York, 
on  the  19th  of  February,  he  received  the  freedom 
of  the  city  in  a  gold  box;  and  there,  as  well  as  in 
Baltimore,  the  municipal  councils  requested  and 
obtained   his  portrait,  to  be  placed    in  their  halls. 


1 56  L  I  F  E     O  F 

While  ho  was  on  this  excursion,  a  report,  connected 
with  the  history  of  the  Seminole  war,  and  extremely 
hostile  to  his  character,  was  made  from  a  committee 
of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  It  had  not  the 
concurrence  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  committee, 
and  it  was  brought  forward  at  too  late  a  period  of 
the  session  of  Congress  to  be  discussed.  Nothing 
more  was  supposed  to  be  meant  by  its  author  than 
to  cast  an  indictment  before  the  public.  It  was  re- 
pelled triumphantly,  in  a  defence  which  was  pub- 
lished in  the  National  Intelligencer,  on  the  5th  of 
March,  and  which  has  been  ascribed  to  General 
Jackson.  He  felt  deeply  imputations  which  he  knew 
to  be  not  only  false,  but  utterly  irreconcilable  with 
his  nature.  The  issue  of  all  the  reports  and  ha- 
rangues was  such  as  might  give  additional  ccmfort 
to  his  domestic  hours  on  his  return  to  his  farm, 
where  he  enjoyed  again  a  period  of  repose. 


ANDREW     JACKSON. 


157 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


JACKSON    AS    GOVERNOR    OF    FLORIDA. 


IHEN  the  treaty  with  Spain,  ceding 
the  Floridas,  was  finally  ratified, 
Congress  passed  a  law  empowering 
the  President  to  vest  in  such  person 
$  or  persons  as  he  might  select,  all  the  mil- 
itary, civil,  and  judicial  authority  exercised 
'^IC  ky  the  officers  of  the  Spanish  government. 
^  The  President,  under  this  law,  appointed 
General  Jackson,  to  act  in  the  first  place  as  com- 
missioner for  receiving  the  provinces,  and  then  to 
assume  the  government  of  them.  It  was  intended 
and  expressed  that  the  American  governor  should 
exercise  all  the  functions  belonging  to  the  Spanish 
governors,  Captain-General  and  Intendants,  until 
Congress  should  provide  a  system  of  administration 
as  in  the  instances  of  the  other  territories. 

The  selection  of  Jackson  was  not  a  mere  mark 
of  honour  or  testimonial  of  public  gratitude.     His 


1 58  LIFE     OF 

intimate  acquaintance  with  the  country,  and  the 
energy  of  his  nature,  recommended  him  specially  for 
the  post  of  governor.  Florida  was  overrun  with 
desperadoes  of  every  description;  it  was  the  resort 
of  a  motley  horde  of  smugglers,  negro  dealers,  and 
adventurers  of  all  kinds  and  nations,  and  had  become 
the  theatre  of  misrule  and  mischief.  The  reputation 
of  Jackson  was  calculated  to  overawe  this  mass  of 
villainy. 

It  was  not  without  reluctance  that  General  Jack- 
eon  entered  upon  this  arduous  office,  but  a  sense  of 
duty  compelled  him  to  accept  the  office,  and  he 
accordingly  repaired  to  the  scene  of  his  labours. 

On  the  first  of  July,  1821,  he  issued  at  Pensacola 
his  proclamation,  announcing  that  possession  had 
been  taken  of  the  territory,  and  the  authority  of  the 
United  States  established. 

He  at  once  adopted  vigorous  measures  for  pro- 
ducing a  proper  administration.  Courts  were  or- 
ganized and  a  police  was  instituted. 

It  was  not  long  until  a  case  came  before  Jackson, 
requiring  the  exertion  of  his  official  power  with 
firmness  and  decision. 

By  the  treaty  with  Spain,  all  documents  relating 
to  property  or  sovereignty  were  required  to  be  de- 
livered up  to  the  American  authorities.     Some  of 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  159 

these  had  already  been  submitted  to  General  Jack- 
son, in  his  capacity  of  governor;  but,  upon  the  22d 
of  August,  he  received  a  petition  from  certain  indi- 
viduals, stating  that  some  deeds,  relating  to  property, 
had  been  feloniously  retained  by  the  Spanish  ex- 
governor,  Callava,  and  that  they  were  then  in  the 
hands  of  a  man  called  Sousa.  Jackson  immediately 
ordered  three  officers  to  wait  upon  Sousa,  and  de- 
mand the  documents.  Sousa  exhibited  them  to  the 
officers,  but  refused  to  give  them  up,  as  they  had 
been  intrusted  to  him  by  Callava.  Jackson  ordered 
Sousa  to  appear  before  him,  who  returned  answer 
that  the  papers  had  been  sent  to  the  house  of  the 
ex-governor  Callava.  Two  officers  were  then  sent 
by  Jackson  to  the  house  of  "Callava,  with  orders  to 
demand  the  papers,  and,  in  case  they  were  refused, 
to  require  both  Callava  and  his  steward,  who  had 
received  them  from  Sousa,  to  appear  before  the  gov- 
ernor. The  Spaniard  insisted  at  first  upon  retaining 
the  papers,  and,  after  promising  to  surrender  them, 
when  a  list  was  furnished,  and  failing  to  do  so,  and 
obstinately  refusing  to  obey  the  summons  in  any 
manner,  he  was  finally  conducted  under  guard  to 
the  office  of  the  governor.  When  there,  he  was 
informed  of  the  nature  and  propriety  of  the  demand 
made  upon  him,  and  apprized  that  the  further  with 


160  LIFE     OF 

holding  of  the  papers  would  be  regarded  as  a  con- 
tempt of  the  governor's  judicial  authority,  and  sub* 
jcct  him  to  imprisonment.  He  would  do  nothing 
but  dictate  protests,  when  the  patience  of  Jackson 
being  exhausted,  he,  his  steward,  and  Sousa  were 
committed  to  prison,  nntil  the  papers  should  be 
obtained. 

The  next  morning,  the  box  in  which  the  papers 
had  been  seen,  was  seized  and  opened  by  officers 
specially  commissioned.  It  had  been  carefully  sealed 
by  Callava,  and  was  found  to  contain  what  was 
sought.  Callava  and  his  companions  were  then  re- 
leased from  jail.  The  records  thus  recovered  re- 
lated to  the  estate  of  a  person  who  died  at  Pensacola, 
about  the  year  1807,  having  made  his  will,  and  be- 
queathed his  property  to  several  orphan  females, 
who  had  never  received  any  portion  of  it,  owing  to 
the  dishonesty  of  the  individuals  who  were  at  the 
same  time  its  depositaries  and  debtors.  Callava 
himself  had  made  decrees  in  favour  of  the  heirs, 
which  were  discovered  in  the  box  and  had  been 
suppressed  under  corrupt  influence.  It  was  the 
object  of  Callava  to  carry  off  all  the  evidence  neces- 
sary for  redress.  He  afterwards  published  in  the 
American  papers  an  exposition  of  the  treatment  he 
nad  received,  and  was  convicted  of  misrepresenta- 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  1G1 

tion,  by  the  counter  statements  of  gentlemen  in 
Pensacola.  To  have  allowed  the  wrong  which  was 
designed  to  be  committed,  would  have  been  a 
disgrace  to  the  dignity  and  justice  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  to  humanity. 
The  just  language  of  Jackson  in  his  justification  of 
the  affair  to  the  President  was :  "  When  men  of 
high  standing  attempt  to  trample  on  the  rights  of 
the  weak,  they  are  the  fittest  objects  for  example  or 
punishment.  In  general,  the  great  can  protect  them- 
selves, but  the  poor  and  humble  require  the  arm  and 
shield  of  the  law." 

Anions  the  civil  officers  sent  to  Florida  on  its 
occupation  by  our  government,  was  a  former  Sen- 
ator of  the  United  States,  Elegius  Fromentin,  who 
went  in  the  capacity  of  a  judge,  with  a  jurisdiction 
limited  to  cases  that  might  arise  under  the  revenue 
laws,  and  the  acts  of  Congress  prohibiting  the  intro- 
duction of  slaves.  This  gentleman  consented,  at 
the  instigation  of  some  of  the  friends  of  Callava, 
to  issue  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  to  extricate  the 
Spaniard  from  confinement.  The  general  Judiciary 
Act  for  the  United  States,  under  which  alone  the 
judge  could  claim  the  right  of  thus  interfering,  had 
not  been  extended  to  the  Floridas.  Jackson  dis- 
played   his  characteristic  decision  and  intelligence 

i 


162  LIFE     OF 

in  this  case,  by  citing  Fromentin  to  appear  before 
him  and  answer  to  the  charge  of  a  contempt  of  the 
superior  court,  and  a  serious  misdemeanor.  The 
prisoner  was  released,  the  papers  having  been  ob- 
tained before  Mr.  Fromentin  was  able  to  present 
himself,  pursuant  to  the  summons.  The  General 
was  then  content  with  defining  to  him  the  limits  of 
his  competency  as  judge,  and  uttering  a  severe  re- 
proof of  his  precipitation.  Very  bitter  complaints 
were  afterwards  made  by  both  parties  to  the  execu- 
tive at  Washington. 

This,  even,  was  not  the  end  of  the  Callava  case, 
as  it  has  been  called.  Several  Spanish  officers  who 
had  remained  with  the  ex-governor  in  the  province 
ventured  to  publish,  in  a  Pensacola  paper,  an  article 
with  their  signatures,  in  which  they  accused  the 
General  of  violence  and  tyranny.  It  was  stipulated 
in  the  treaty  of  cession,  that  all  the  Spanish  officers 
should  be  withdrawn  from  the  territories  ceded, 
within  six  months  after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty. 
More  than  this  term  had  elapsed.  Jackson  issued 
his  proclamation  without  delay,  commanding  them, 
as  trespassers  and  disturbers  of  the  public  peace,  to 
depart  in  the  course  of  a  week.  They  had  not  the 
rolly  to  remain.  About  the  same  period,  many 
mportant    documents    which    the    Spaniards    had 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  163 

no  right  to  retain,  were  attempted  to  be  withheld 
by  the  ex-governor  of  East  Florida.  Jackson,  on 
hearing  of  this  attempt,  transmitted,  by  mail,  his 
orders  to  take  forcible  possession  of  them  ;  which 
was  done  accordingly.  The  ex-governor  protested  ; 
out  upon  insufficient  grounds,  and  with  personal 
disgrace. 

These  occurrences  produced  much  discussion  in 
the  newspapers,  and  violent  remonstrances  from  the 
Spanish  minister,  but  the  acts  of  General  Jackson 
were  fully  justified  as  soon  as  the  facts  became 
generally  known. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  Jackson  delegated  his 
power  to  two  gentlemen,  his  secretaries,  and  re- 
turned to  Nashville.  In  his  valedictory  address  to 
the  citizens  of  Florida,  he  informed  them  that  he 
had  completed  the  temporary  organization  of  the 
two  provinces.  He  stated  and  justified  his  acts  in 
the  case  of  Callava. 

The  injuries  which  his  health  had  suffered,  for- 
bade him  to  protract  his  residence  in  Florida. 

Before  his  departure,  he  received  from  the  citizens 
spontaneous  public  manifestations  of  esteem  and 
gratkude.  Attempts  were  made  at  the  ensuing 
session  of  Congress,  to  obtain  a  condemnation  of  his 
tonduct   towards   Callava,  but   they  utterly  failed, 


1  64  L  I  F  E     O  F 

both  with  the  Legislature  and  the  people.  On  the 
4th  of  July,  1822,  the  governor  of  Tennessee,  by 
order  of  the  Legislature,  presented  him  with  a  sword 
as  a  testimonial  "of  the  high  respect"  entertained 
by  the  state  for  his  public  services.  And,  on  the 
20th  of  August,  of  the  same  year,  the  members  of 
the  General  Assembly  of  Tennessee  recommended 
him  to  the  union  for  the  office  of  President — a  re- 
commendation which  was  repeated  by  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Alabama,  and  various  assemblages  of  private 
citizens  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  In  the  autumn 
of  1823,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States;  social  honours  were  heaped  upon  him  at 
Washington,  and  he  was  every  day  receiving  evi- 
dences of  the  high  respect  entertained  for  him  on  all 
sides. 

Before  his  election  to  the  Senate,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  government 
of  Mexico,  but  he  declined  the  office,  in  consequence 
of  his  repugnance  to  the  monarchical  system  of  gov- 
ernment which  Lien  existed  in  that  country. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  1(55 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

JACKSON    BECOMES    PRESIDENT    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

N  1824,  when  a  new  President  was  to  be 
chosen,  Jackson  was  put  in  nomination 
as  a  candidate  for  the  office  ;  but  though 
he  had  more  votes  than  any  other  can- 
e'^f%i   did  ate,  vet  'ie  was  not  elected.     The  reader 
yk2'    will  ask  how  this  can  be?  it  is  thus:     The 
h&*     law  is,  that  electors  of  the  President  shall  be 
chosen  by  the  people  in  every  state;    that 
these  electors  shall  each  give  their  votes  for  some 
one  person  to  be  President ;  that  any  candidate  who 
has  a  majority  of  the  votes  of  the  whole  of  the  elec- 
tors shall   be  the  President;  but,  if  there  be  no  one 
who  has  a  majority  of  the  whole  of  the  votes  of  the 
electors,  then   the  President  shall  be  chosen  by  the 
members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  ;  but  that 
there  they  shall  vote  by  stales  ;  and  that  each  state 
shall  have  one  vote,  and  no  more.     Now,  there  were 


166  LIFE    OF 

four  candidates  having  votes   of  electors,   as   fol« 
lows : — 

Jackson 99 

Adams 84 

Crawford „ 47 

Clay , 31 

Total,  261 

Therefore,  Jackson  not  having  a  majority  of  the 
whole,  the  other  kind  of  election  took  place ;  and  as 
they  were  the  large  states  which  were  for  him,  and 
the  small  states  which  were  for  Adams,  the  election 
by  the  House  of  Representatives  made  Adams 
President,  with  a  minority  of  the  votes  of  the  people. 

Adams's  four  years  having  expired,  he  was  once 
more  a  candidate ;  but  the  field  was  now  clear  of 
Clav  and  of  Crawford,  and  the  votes  of  the  elector? 
stood  thus : 

Jackson 178 

Adams „ „ e 83 

Total,  2G1 

Jackson  was,  therefore,  in  1828,  elected  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  his  first  term  of  office 
having  expired,  he  was,  in  1832,  re-elected  by  a 
triumphant  majority  over  his  opponent,  Henry  Clay 

It  need  hardly  be  observed  that  General  Jackson, 
during  his  political  life,  as  every  great  man  must 
made  a  large  number  of  enemies.     The  greater  part 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  167 

of  these  enemies  grew  out  of  General  Jackson's 
opposition  to  the  Bank  of  the  United  States. 

The  many  and  strong  prejudices  engendered  by 
his  bold  and  energetic  administration  of  public  af- 
fairs, will  gradually  become  less  as  time  erases  from 
memories  the  influence  of  his  policy  upon  individual 
interests  and  happiness.  There  will  always,  how- 
ever, be  a  diversity  of  opinions  among  the  most  in- 
telligent and  honest,  as  to  the  effects  of  his  remark- 
able career  upon  the  character  and  prosperity  of  the 
country. 

General  Jackson,  upon  retiring  from  the  Presi- 
dential chair,  in  1836,  returned  to  his  quiet  homo  at 
the  Hermitage,  near  Nashville,  Tennessee,  whence 
his  influence  was  silently  exerted  upon  our  politics 
for  the  residue  of  his  life.  He  continued,  till  the  end, 
to  be  recognised  as  the  chief  of  the  great  party  over 
which  he  had  so  long  presided,  and  was  consulted 
almost  as  an  oracle  upon  all  important  questions. 


168 


LIFE     Off 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


THE    LAST    HOURS    OF    JACKSON. 

E  come  now  to  the  Inst  scene  in  the 

life  of  the  great  soldier  and  states- 

man,  and  shall  dwell   with  particu- 

ffiKr^"^       S  lar'ly    upon     the    incidents    of    his 

death.     lie  died  at  his  home  in  Tennessee, 


on  the  afternoon  of  the  8th  day  of  June, 
1845.  Mr.  William  Tyack,  of  New  York, 
has  published  an  account  of  his  visit  to  the 
Hermitage,  which  he  left  the  Wednesday  before  the 
ex-president  expired,  and  from  his  journal  we  take 
the  following  paragraphs  : 

"Wednesday,  May  28. — On  my  arrival,  I  found 
General  Jackson  more  comfortable  than  he  had 
been,  although  his  disease  is  not  abated,  and  his  long 
and  useful  life  is  rapidly  drawing  to  its  close.  He 
has  not  been  in  a  condition  to  lie  down  during  the 
last  four  months.  His  feet  and  legs,  his  hands  and 
arms,   are  very  much   swollen  with  dropsy,  which 


ANDREW     JACKSON  169 

has  invaded  his  whole  system.  Bandages  are  drawn 
tight  around  the  parts  most  affected,  to  prevent,  as 
much  as  possible,  the  increase  of  water.  He  has 
scarcely  anv  use  of  his  hands.  The  bandages  are 
removed  several  times  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  and 
the  parts  rubbed  severely  to  restore  animation  and 
the  circulation  of  the  blood.  He  has  not  strength 
to  stand ;  his  respiration  is  very  short,  and  attended 
with  much  difficulty,  and  the  whole  progress  of  his 
disease  is  accompanied  with  great  suffering.  He 
has  no  sleep  except  by  opiates. 

"Thursday,  May  29.— General  Jackson  is  rather 
more  comfortable,  having  obtained  some  sleep 
through  medicines.  This  day  he  sat  a  while  to  Mr. 
Healy,  who  had  been  sent  by  Louis  Philippe,  to 
paint  his  portrait.  Mr.  Healy  told  me  that  it  was 
the  design  of  the  King  of  the  French  to  place  Jack- 
son's by  the  side  of  Washington's,  which  already 
hangs  in  his  gallery — the  most  celebrated  and  in- 
teresting historical  collection  in  the  world — and  to 
surround  them  with  the  pictures  of  the  most  emi- 
nent of  American  generals  and  statesmen.  Mr. 
Healy  is  commissioned  by  the  king  to  paint  the 
portraits  of  some  twelve  of  our  most  distinguished 
patriots,  to  accompany  those  of  Washington  and 
Jackson — the  greatest  and   best   men  our  country 


1 70  L  I  F  E     O  F 

has  produced — as  well  as  some  of  the  most  prom* 
inent  politicians  of  the  present  time.  Messrs.  John 
Quincy  Adams  and  Henry  Clay  were  named  by  Mr. 
Healy  to  me.  He  was  enabled  to  make  much  pro- 
gress in  his  work  to-day,  and,  as  usual,  the  General 
received  many  visiters — more  than  thirty.  All  were 
admitted,  from  the  humblest  to  the  most  renowned, 
to  take  the  venerable  chieftain  by  the  hand  and  bid 
him  farewell.  Among  them  was  General  Jessup,  an 
old  friend  and  companion  in  arms.  The  meeting  of 
these  most  faithful  and  gallant  soldiers  and  servants 
of  the  republic  was  deeply  interesting  and  affecting. 
A  reverend  gentleman  called  to  inquire  in  regard  to 
the  General's  health,  his  faith,  and  religious  hope.  He 
said,  "  Sir,  I  am  in  the  hands  of  a  merciful  God.  I 
have  full  confidence  in  his  goodness  and  mercy.  My 
lamp  of  life  is  nearly  out,  and  the  last  glimmer  is 
come.  I  am  ready  to  depart  when  called.  The 
Bible  is  true.  The  principles  and  statutes  of  that 
holy  book  have  been  the  rule  of  my  life,  and  I  havf 
tried  to  conform  to  its  spirit  as  near  as  possible 
Upon  that  sacred  volume  I  rest  my  hope  of  eternal 
salvation,  through  the  merits  and  blood  of  our 
blessed  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ."  Nothing 
farther  was  said  upon  the  subject. 

"Friday,  May  30. — The   General   passed  a  bad 


Jackson  at  the  Heiimitage. 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  17 1 

night ;  no  sleep — extremely  feeble  this  morning.  Mr 
Ilealy,  with  considerable  exertions  on  the  pari  of 
the  General,  was  enabled  to  finish  the  portrait,  on 
which  he  laboured  with  great  care.  It  was  presented 
to  the  General.  After  examining  it  for  some  min- 
utes, he  remarked  to  Mr.  Healy,  "  I  am  satisfied, 
sir,  that  you  stand  at  the  head  of  your  profession; 
if  I  may  be  allowed  to  judge  of  my  own  likeness,  I 
can  safely  concur  in  the  opinion  of  my  family,  that  it 
is  the  best  that  has  been  taken.  I  feel  very  much 
obliged  to  you,  sir,  for  the  very  great  labour  and 
care  you  have  been  pleased  to  bestow  upon  it." 
The  family  were  all  highly  gratified  with  its  faithful- 
ness. I  consider  it  the  most  perfect  representation 
I  have  ever  seen,  giving  rather  the  remains  of  the 
heroic  personage,  than  the  full  life  that  made  him 
the  most  extraordinary  combination  of  spirit  and 
energy,  with  a  slender  frame,  the  world  ever  saw. 
At  nine  o'clock,  as  was  the  custom,  all  the  General's 
family — except  the  few  who  take  their  turn  to  watch 
by  his  side — took  their  leave  of  him.  Each  of  them 
approached  him,  received  his  blessing,  bade  him 
farewell,  and  kissed  him,  as  it  would  seem,  an  eter- 
nal good-night — for  he  would  say,  "My  work  is  done 
for  life."  After  his  family  retires,  it  is  touching  to 
see  this  heroic  man,  who  has  faced  every  danger 


172  LIFE     O  V 

with  unyielding  front,  offer  up  his  prayers  for  those 
whom  Providence  has  committed  to  his  care;  that 
Heaven  would  protect  and  prosper  them  when  he  is 
no  more — praying  still  more  fervently  to  God  for 
the  preservation  of  his  country,  of  the  union,  and 
the  people  of  the  United  States,  from  all  foreign  in- 
fluence and  invasion — tendering  his  forgiveness  to 
his  enemies,  and  his  gratitude  to  God  for  his  support 
and  success  through  a  long  life,  and  for  the  hope  of 
eternal  salvation,  through  the  merits  of  our  blessed 
Redeemer.  He  exerts  himself  to  discharge  every 
duty,  and  with  all  the  anxious  care  that  is  possible; 
but  his  debility  and  the  unremitting  anguish  he 
suffers  have  almost  extinguished  every  power  except 
that  of  his  intellect.  Occasionally  his  distress  pro- 
duces spasmodic  affections;  yet,  in  the  midst  of  the 
worst  paroxysms  of  pain,  not  a  murmur,  not  even  a 
groan,  escapes  his  lips.  Great  and  just  in  life,  calm 
and  resigned  in  death. 

"Saturday,  May  31. — The  General  passed  a  night 
of  distress,  no  sleep;  extreme  debility  this  morning, 
attended  with  increased  swelling  of  the  abdomen 
and  all  his  limbs,  and  difficulty  of  breathing.  He 
said,  "I  hope  God  will  grant  me  patience  to  sub- 
mit to  His  holy  will ;  He  does  all  things  well,  and 
blessed  be  His  holy  and  merciful  name."     His  Bible 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  173 

is  always  near  him;  if  he  is  in  his  chair,  it  is  on  the 
table  by  his  side  ;  when  propped  up  in  bed  that 
sacred  volume  is  laid  by  him,  and  he  often  reads  it. 
He  has  no  strength,  and  is  lifted  in  and  out  of  his 
sitting  posture  in  bed  to  the  same  position  in  his 
chair.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  affectionate  care, 
vigilance,  and  never-ceasing  efforts  of  his  pious  and 
devoted  family,  to  administer  to  his  relief;  and  yet, 
in  the  midst  of  the  affliction  which  calls  for  so  much 
attention  and  sympathy,  kindness  and  hospitality  to 
strangers  are  not  omitted. 

"Sunday,  June  1. — "This  day,"  the  General  said, 
"  is  the  holy  Sabbath,  ordained  by  God,  and  set 
apart  to  be  devoted  to  his  worship  and  praise.  I 
always  attended  service  at  church  when  I  could  ; 
but  now  I  can  go  no  more."  He  desired  the  family 
to  go,  as  many  as  could,  and  charged  them  to  con- 
tinue the  education  of  the  poor  at  the  Sunday 
school.  This  new  system  of  instruction,  he  slid, 
which  blended  the  duties  of  religion  with  those  of 
humanity,  he  considered  of  vast  importance ;  and 
spoke  with  an  emphasis  which  showed  his  anxiety 
to  impress  it  on  the  family.  Mrs.  Jackson,  and  her 
sister,  Mrs.  Adams,  regularly  attended  to  the  teach- 
ing of  the  poor  on  the  Sabbath.  A  part  of  the  family 
went  to  church.     The  General   looked  out  of  the 


1  74  L  I  F  E     O  F 

window,  and  said,  "  This  is  apparently  the  iast  Sab- 
bath I  shall  be  with  you  ;  God's  will  be  done — lie 
is  kind  and  merciful."  His  look  is  often  fixed  with 
peculiar  affection  on  his  grand-daughter  Rachel, 
named  after  his  wife,  whose  memory  he  has  so  ten- 
derly cherished.  She  has  all  the  lovely  and  amiable 
qualities  for  which  the  elder  Mrs.  Jackson  was  so 
remarkable. 

"Monday,  June  2. — The  General  passed  a  restless 
night — no  sleep — an  evident  increase  of  the  effects 
of  the  disease.  He  read  many  letters,  as  usual. 
Some  of  them  were  from  persons  of  whom  he  had 
no  knowledge,  asking  for  autographs,  and  making 
other  requests.  The  letters  were  opened  by  some 
of  the  family.  Mrs.  Jackson  or  Mrs.  Adams  was 
almost  constantly  with  him.  He  looked  over  them  j 
those  of  importance  were  opened  and  read.  Among 
them  was  one  from  Major  Donelson,  charge  d'af- 
faires to  Texas,  giving  an  account  of  the  almost  in- 
credible proceedings  of  the  British  agent,  Elliot,  to 
prevent  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United 
States.  The  General  said,  "We  have  made  a  dis- 
graceful sacrifice  of  our  territory ;  an  important 
portion  of  our  country  was  given  away  to  England 
without  a  shadow  of  title  on  the  part  of  the  claim- 
ants, as  has  been  shown  by  the  admissions  of  the 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  175 

English  ministers  on  referring,  in  Parliament,  to  the 
King's  map,  on  which  the  true  boundaries  were  de- 
lineated, and  of  which  they  were  apprised  when 
urging  their  demands.  "Right  on  the  side  of  the 
American  people,  and  firmness  in  maintaining  it," 
he  continued,  "  with  trust  in  God  alone,  will  secure 
to  them  the  integrity  of  the  possessions  of  which 
the  British  government  would  now  deprive  them.  I 
am  satisfied  that  they  will  assert  and  vindicate  what 
justice  awards  them ;  and  that  no  part  of  our  terri- 
tory or  country  will  ever  be  submitted  to  any  arbi- 
tration but  of  the  cannon's  mouth."  He  felt  grateful 
to  a  merciful  Providence  that  had  always  sustained 
him  through  all  his  struggles,  in  the  defence  and 
for  the  independence  and  prosperity  of  his  be- 
loved country,  and  that  he  could  give  up  his  stew- 
ardship and  resign  his  breath  to  the  God  who  gave 
it,  with  the  cheering  reflection  that  the  country  was 
now  settled  down  upon  a  firm,  democratic  basis ; 
that  the  rights  of  the  labouring  classes  were  re- 
spccted  and  protected,  (for,  he  adds,  it  is  from  them 
that  the  country  derives  all  its  prosperity  and  great- 
ness,) and  to  them  we  must  ever  look  for  defence  of 
our  soil  when  invaded.  They  have  never  refused. 
No,  sir:  and  never  will.  Give  them  an  honest  gov- 
ernment, freedom  from  monopolies   and  privileged 


176  LIFE     OF 

classes,  and  hard  money — not  paper  currency — for 
their  hard  labour,  and  all  will  be  well.  At  two 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  his  distress  became  suddenly  very 
great.  An  express  was  sent  to  Nashville,  twelve 
miles,  for  surgical  aid.  An  operation  was  performed 
by  Doctor  Esleman,  which  produced  great  relief, 
although  extreme  prostration. 

"Tuesday,  June  3. — Much  distress  through  the 
night.  Opiates  were  freely  administered,  but  sleep 
appeared  to  have  passed  from  him.  Calm,  and  per- 
fectly resigned  to  the  will  of  his  Redeemer,  he 
prayed  to  God  to  sustain  him  in  this  his  hour  of 
dissolution.  At  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Doctors  Robin- 
son and  Walters  arrived  from  Nashville,  Doctor 
Esleman  having  remained  with  the  General  through 
the  night.  A  consultation  was  held,  and  all  that 
had  been  done  was  approved  ;  all  that  could  be  done 
was  to  administer  to  the  General's  temporary  wants. 
At  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  left  his  house  for  home. 
He  expressed  great  solicitude  in  my  behalf,  but  I 
was  silent;  the  scene  was  too  affecting ;  and  I  left 
this  aged  soldier,  statesman,  and  Christian  patriot 
with  all  the  pious  and  hospitable  inmates  of  the 
Hermitage,  without  the  power  of  saying  farewell." 

We  continue  the  narrative,  from  the  declarations 
of  Dr.  Esleman,  the  attending  physician: 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  177 

Early  in  the  morning,  (Sunday,)  he  became  con 
scious  that  the  spark  of  life  was  nearly  extinguished  ; 
and,  expecting  to  die  before  another  sun  would  set,  he 
sent  for  his  family  and  domestics  to  receive  his  dying 
benediction.  His  remarks  were  full  of  affection  and 
Christian  resignation.  His  mind  retained  its  vigour 
to  the  last,  and  his  dying  moments,  even  more  than 
bis  early  years,  exhibited  its  highest  intellectual  light. 

To  his  family  and  friends  he  said: — "Do  not 
grieve  that  I  am  about  to  leave  you,  for  I  shall  be 
better  off.  Although  I  am  afflicted  with  pain  and 
bodily  suffering,  these  are  as  nothing  compared  with 
the  sufferings  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  who  was 
put  to  death  on  the  accursed  tree.  I  have  fulfilled 
my  destiny  on  the  earth,  and  it  is  better  that  this 
worn-out  frame  should  go  to  rest,  and  my  spirit 
take  up  its  abode  with  the  Redeemer." 

He  continued  thus  to  address  his  relatives  and 
friends  at  intervals,  during  the  forenoon,  and  as,  Dr. 
Esleman  remarked,  his  confidence  and  faith  in  the 
g^eat  truths  of  religion  seemed  to  be  more  firm  and 
unwavering  than  any  man  he  had  ever  seen  die. 
He  expressed  a  desire  that  Dr.  Edgar  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  to  which  he  himself  belonged,  should 
preach  his  funeral  sermon,  and  that  no  pomp  03 
parade  should  be  made  over  his  grave. 

u 


178 


LIFE    OF 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

FUNERAL   HONOURS CHARACTER PERSONAL    APPEARANCB. 


^^VHHHHI  HE  intelligence  of  General  Jackson's 
death  caused  everywhere  a  profound 
sensation.  In  all  the  large  cities, 
funeral  honours  were  paid  to  his 
memory,  and  culogiums  were  pronounced  by 
the  most  eminent  citizens.  We  close  this 
memoir  with  the  words  of  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  of  our  statesmen,  and  the  ablest 
of  those  who  opposed  General  Jackson's  adminis- 
tration— Daniel  Webster,  who  spoke  as  follows,  be 
fore  the  Historical  Society  of  New  York: 

"The  character  of  General  Jackson,  while  he 
lived,  was  presented  in  two  relations  to  his  country. 
He  was  a  soldier  and  had  commanded  the  armies 
of  the  Republic,  and  he  has  filled  the  office  of  Chief 
Magistrate.  So  far  as  regards  his  military  reputa- 
tion and  merits,  I  partake  fully  in  the  general  esti- 
mate     He   was   a   soldier  of  dauntless   courage, 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  179 

vigour  and  perseverance,  an  officer  of  skill  and 
sagacity,  of  quickness  of  perception,  and  of  prompt 
and  'resolute  execution  of  his  purposes.  There  is 
probably  no  division,  at  home  or  abroad,  as  to  his 
merits  in  these  particulars. 

"  During  the  whole  of  his  civil  administration,  it 
happened  that  I  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States ;  and  it  was  my  misfortune  to  bo 
obliged  to  differ  with  him  in  regard  to  most  of  his 
leading  measures.  To  me  this  was  painful,  because 
it  much  better  suits  my  temper  and  feelings  to  be 
able  to  support  the  measures  of  government,  than  to 
find  myself  called  upon  by  duty  to  oppose  them. 

"  There  were  occasions,  however,  in  the  course 
of  his  administration,  in  which  no  duty  of  opposition 
devolved  upon  me.  Some  of  these  were  not  unim- 
portant. There  were  times  which  appeared  to  me 
to  be  critical,  calling  for  wisdom  and  energy  on  the 
part  of  the  government,  and  in  which  measures  pro- 
posed, and  opinions  expressed  by  him,  seemed  to  me 
to  be  highly  suitable  to  the  exigency.  On  these 
occasions,  I  supported  those  measures  with  the 
same  sincerity  and  zeal  as  if  I  had  never  differed 
from  him  before,  or  never  expected  to  differ  from 
him  again. 

"  There  is  no  doubt  that  he  sought  to  distinguish 


180  LIFE     OF 

himself  by  exalting  the  character  and  honour  of  hia 
country.  And  the  occasion  on  which  it  was  uttered 
rendered  somewhat  remarkable  his  celebrated  senti- 
ment in  favour  of  the  preservation  of  the  union.  I 
believe  he  felt  the  sentiment  with  the  utmost  sin- 
cerity, and  this  cannot  be  denied  to  be  one  strong 
proof  of  his  devotion  to  the  true  interests  of  his 
country. 

"He  has  now  ceased  from  his  earthly  labours; 
and  affects  the  public  interests  of  the  State  only  by 
his  example  and  the  influence  of  his  opinions.  We 
may  well  suppose  that  in  the  last  days  and  hours> 
and  moments  of  his  life,  and  with  the  full  conscious- 
ness of  the  change  then  before  him  and  so  near,  one 
of  his  warmest  wishes  would  be,  that  whatever 
errors  he  might  have  committed  should  be  passing 
and  transitory  in  their  effect  upon  the  constitution 
and  institutions  of  his  country.  And  while  we  may 
well  ascribe  this  praiseworthy  and  benign  dying 
sentiment  to  him,  let  us,  with  equal  ingenuousness, 
cherish  the  feeling  that  whatever  he  has  accom- 
plished for  the  real  good  of  the  country,  its  true 
character  and  real  glory,  may  remain  a  just  inhere 
itance  attached  to  his  memory." 

In  the  various  critical  situations  in  which  he  was 
placed  by  emergencies  and  the  unlimited  discretion 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  181 

cast  upon  him,  he  appears  to  have  been  governed 
by  general  and  solid  principles  which  he  knew  how 
to  apply  satisfactorily  in  explaining  his  measures. 
The  very  salutary  energy  and  decision  with  which 
he  pursued  the  course  that  he  had  deliberately  con- 
cluded to  be  right  and  necessary,  subjected  him  to 
the  belief  or  charge  of  having  acted  merely  from  a 
vehement,  overbearing,  or  arbitrary  disposition.  If 
his  feelings  were  strongly  roused  and  displayed 
against  the  timid  or  the  traitorous  portion  of  the  in- 
habitants of  New  Orleans,  who  would  have  given 
the  enemy  an  easy  and  fatal  triumph — against  the 
Spanish  authorities  in  Florida  who  served  the  British 
and  supplied  the  Seminoles — against  Arbuthnot  and 
Ambrister,  the  unwearied  instigators  and  insidious 
confederates  of  the  savages  thirsting  for  American 
blood  —  against  the  imposter  prophets,  who  had 
directed  the  butchery  of  white  women  and  children, 
and  whose  occupation  it  was  to  incite  depredation 
and  murder — against  a  Spanish  governor  who  would 
have  violated  a  treaty  and  despoiled  orphan  females 
of  their  inheritance — we  may  say  that  both  the 
warmth  of  those  feelings,  and  the  rigour  with  which 
they  were  manifested,  will  be  easily  excused  by 
generous  minds. 

General   Jacksau  was  artificial   in  nothing.     In 


182  LIFE     OF 

regard  to  business,  he  was  indefatigable  and  saga 
cious,  and,  in  the  course  of  his  practice  as  a  lawyer 
he  accumulated  a  competent  estate. 

In  person,  General  Jackson  was  tall,  and  remark- 
ably erect  and  thin.  His  weight  bore  no  proportion 
to  his  height,  and  his  f;  ame.,  in  general,  did  not 
appear  fitted  for  trials  such  as  it  had  borne.  His 
features  were  large ;  his  eyes  dark  blue,  with  a  keen 
and  strong  glance ;  his  eye-brows  arched  and  prom- 
inent, and  his  complexion  that  of  the  war-worn 
soldier.  His  demeanour  was  easy  and  gentle:  in 
every  station  he  was  open  and  accessible  to  all. 
The  irritability  of  his  temper,  which  was  not  denied 
by  his  friends,  produced  contrasts  in  his  manner  and 
countenance  leading  to  very  different  conceptions 
and  representations  as  to  both :  but  those  who  have 
lived  and  acted  with  him  bear  unanimous  testimony 
to  the  general  mildness  of  his  carriage  and  the 
kindness  of  his  disposition.  It  is  certain  that  he 
inspired  his  soldiers,  his  military  household,  his 
domestic  circle,  and  his  neighbours,  with  the  most 
affectionate  sentiments.  The  impetuosity  of  nis 
nature,  his  impatience  of  wrong  and  encroachment, 
his  contempt  for  meanness,  and  his  tenaciousness 
of  just  authority,  involved  him  in  bitter  alter- 
cations and  sanguinary  quarrels  :■ — his  resentments 


ANDREW     JACKSON.  183 

wero  fiercely  executed,  and  his  censures  rashly 
uttered ;  yet  he  cannot  be  accused  of  wanton  or 
malicious  violence  ;  the  sallies  which  may  be  deemed 
intemperate  can  be  traced  to  strong  provocation, 
operating,  in  most  instances,  upon  his  patriotic  zeal 
and  the  very  generosity  and  loftiness  of  his  spirit. 

His  amusements  consisted  chiefly  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  domestic  concerns,  the  sports  of  the  turf, 
and  social  intercourse.  He  was  temperate  in  his 
diet,  and  in  all  respects  enjoyed  a  good  private  repu- 
tation. 


How  sleep  the  brave,  who  sink  to  rest, 
By  all  their  country's  wishes  blest  ! 
When  Spring,  with  dewy  fingers  cold, 
Returns  to  seek  their  hallovv'd  mould, 
She  there  shall  dress  a  sweeter  sod, 
Than  Fancy's  feet  have  ever  trod  ! 
By  fairy  forms  their  dirge  is  sung — 
By  hands  unseen  their  knell  is  rung — 
There  Honour  comes,  a  pilgrim  grey, 
To  bless  the  turf  that  wraps  their  ciay< 
And  Freedom  shall  awhile  repair 
To  dwell  a  weeping  hermit  there  1 

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YOUNG  FOLKS'  HEROES  OF  HISTORY. 

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VASCO     DA     GAMA: 

HIS     VOYAGES     AND     ADVENTURES. 

"Da  Gama's  history  is  full  of  striking  adventures,  thrilling  incidents,  and 

perilous  situations;  and  Mr.  Towle,  while  not  sacrificing  historical  accuracy, 

iias  so  skilfully  used  his  materials,  that  we  have  a  charmingly  romantic  tale." 

—  Rural  M'ew-  Yorker. 

PI  Z  A  R  RO: 
HTS  ADVENTURES  AND  CONQUESTS. 
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the  taste  for  unwholesome,  exciting,  wrong-teaching  boys'  books  —  dime 
novels  in  books' clothing  —  would  be  greatly  diminished,  to  the  great  gain  of 
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MAGELLAN; 

OR,  THE  FIRST  VOYAGE  ROUND  THE  WORLD, 
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MARCO     POLO: 

HIS  TRAVELS  AND  ADVENTURES. 
"The  story  of  the  adventurous  Venetian,  who  six  hundred  years  ago  penai 
trated  into  India  and  Cathay  and  Thibet  and  Abyssinia,  is  pleasantly  and 
clearly  told;  and  nothing  better  can  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  school  boy 
or  girl  than  this  series  of  the  records  of  noted  travellers.  The  heroism  dis- 
played by  these  men  was  certainly  as  great  as  that  ever  shown  by  conquering 
warrior ;  and  it  was  exercised  in  a  far  nobler  cause,  —  the  cause  of  knowledge 
and  discovery,  which  has  made  the  nineteenth  century  what  it  is."  ^.Graphic. 

RALEGH: 

HIS     EXPLOITS     AND     VOYAGES. 

"This  belongs  to  the  '  Young  Folks'  Heroes  of  History  '  series,  and  d^als 
•with  a  greater  and  more  interesting  man  than  any  of  its  predecessors.  With 
all  the  black  spots  on  his  fame,  there  are  few  more  brilliant  and  striking 
figures  in  English  history  than  the  soldier,  sailor,  courtier,  author,  and  ex- 
plorer,  Sir  Walter  Ralegh.  Even  at  this  distance  of  time,  more  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty  years  after  his  head  fell  on  the  scaffold,  we  cannot  read  his 
story  without  emotion.  It  is  graphically  written,  and  is  pleasant  reading, 
not 'only  for  young  folks,  but  for  old  folks  with  young  hearts."  —  Woman's 
Journal. 

DRAKE: 
THE    SEA-LION     OF     DEVON. 

Drake  was  the  foremost  sea-captain  of  his  age,  the  first  English  admiral 
to  send  a  ship  completely  round  the  world,  the  hero  of  the  magnificent 
victory  which  the  English  won  over  the  Invincible  Armada.  His  career  waa 
Stirring,  bold,  and  adventurous,  from  early  youth  to  old  age. 

LEE  AND  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston. 


STANDARD   ELOCUTIONARY  BOOKS. 


FIVE-MINUTE  DECLAMATIONS.  Selected  and  adapted  by 
Walter  K.  Fobes,  teacher  of  elocution  and  public  reader;  author 
of  "  Elocution  Simplified."     Cloth.     5(J  cents. 

FIVE-MINUTE  RECITATIONS.    By  Walter  K.  Fobes.    Cloth. 

50  cents. 
FIVE-MINUTE  READINGS.  By  Walter  K.  Fobes.  Cloth. 
50  cents. 
Pupils  In  public  schools  on  declamation  days  are  limited  to  five  minutes 
each  for  the  delivery  of  "  pieces."  There  is  a  great  complaint  of  the  scarcity 
of  material  for  such  a  purpose,  while  the  injudicious  pruning  of  eloquent 
extracts  has  often  marred  the  desired  effects.  To  obviate  these  difficulties, 
new  "  Five-Minute  "  books  have  been  prepared  by  a  competent  teacher. 

ELOCUTION   SIMPLIFIED.     With  an  appendix  on  Lisping,  Stara. 

mering,  and   other  Impediments   of   Speech.    By  Walter   K.  Fobes, 

graduate  of  the."  Boston  School  of  Oratory."     16mo.    Cloth.    50  cents. 

Paper,  30  cents. 

"The  whole  art  of  elocution  is  succinctly  set  forth  in  this  small  volume, 

Which  might  be   judiciously  included  among  the  text-books  of  schools."  — 

ATew  Orleans  Picayune. 

ADVANCED  READINGS  AND  RECITATIONS.    By  Austin 
B.  Fletcher,  A.M.,  LL.B.,  Professor  of  Oratory,  Brown  University, 
and   Boston  University  School  of    Law.     This   book   has   been   already 
adopted   in   a   large    number    of    Universities,   Colleges,   Post-graduate 
Schools  of  Law  and  Theology,  Seminaries,  etc.     12mo.     Cloth.     $1.50. 
"Professor  Fletcher's  noteworthy  compilation  has  been  made  with    rare 
rhetorical  judgment,  and  evinces  a  sympathy  for  the  best  forms   of    litera- 
ture, adapted  to  attract  readers  and  speakers,  and  mould  their  literary  taste." 
—  Prop.  J.  W.  CHURCHILL.  Andover  Theological  Seminary. 
THE    COLUMBIAN    SPEAKER.      Consisting  of    choice  and   ani- 
mated pieces  for  declamation  and  reading.     By  Loomi?  J.  Campbell, 
and  Orin  Root,  Jun.     16mo.    Cloth.     75  cents. 
Mr.  Campbell,  as  one  of   the  editors  of  "  Worcester's  Dictionaries,"  the 
popular   "Franklin   Readers,"   and    author   of    the   successful   little   work, 
"Pronouncing  Hand-Book  of  3,000  Words,"  is  well  known  as  a   thorough 
scholar.     Mr.  Root  is  an  accomplished  speaker  and  instructor  in   the  West; 
and  both,  through  experience  knowing  the  need  of  such  a  work,  are  well 
qualified  to  prepare  it.     It  in  a  genuine  success. 

VOCAL    AND    ACTION-LANGUAGE,    CULTURE    AND 
EXPRESSION.     By  E.  N.  Kirby,  teacher  of  elocution  iu  the  Lynn 
High  Schools.     12mo.     English  cloth  binding.     Price,  §1.25. 
"Teachers  and  students  of  the  art  of  public  speaking,  in  any  of  its  forms, 

will    be   benefited    by   a   liberal   use   of   this   practical   hand-book." — Prof. 

Churchill. 

KEENE'S   SELECTIONS.     Selection  for  reading  and   elocution.     A 
hand-book   for  teachers  and   students.     By  J.  W.  Keene,  A.M.,  M.D. 
Cloth.     $1. 
"An  admirable  selection  of  practical  pieces." 

LITTLE  PIECES  FOR  LITTLE  SPEAKERS.  The  primary 
school  teacher's  assistant.  By  a  practical  teacher.  16mo.  lllustiated. 
75  cents.     Also  in  boards,  60  cents.     Has  had  an  immense  sale. 

THE    MODEL    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    SPEAKER.      Containing 
selections,  in  prose  and  verse,  from  the  most  popular  pieces  and  dialogues 
for  Sunday-school  exhibitions.    UlUBt.   Cloth.   75  cents.   Boards,  60  cents. 
"A  book  very  much  needed." 


Special  terms  to  teachers  and  classes 
LEE    AND    SHEPARD    Publishers    Boston 


J.  T.  TROWBRIDGE'S  NOVELS. 

NEW   UNIFORM    EDITION. 
FARNELL'S  FOLLY. 

"  As  a  Novel  of  American  Society,  this  book  lias  never  been  surpassed. 
Hearty  ill  style  and  wholesome  in  tone.  Its  pathos  often  melting,  to 
tears,  its  humor  always  exciting  merriment." 

CUDJO'S    CAVE. 

Like  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  this  thrilling  story  was  a  stimulating 
power  in  the  civil  war,  and  had  an  immense  sale.  Secretary  Chase,  of 
President  Lincoln's  cabinet,  said  of  it,  "I  could  not  help  reading  it :  it 
interested  and  impressed  me  profoundly.  ' 

THE    THREE    SCOUTS. 

Another  popular  book  of  the  same  stamp,  of  which  "  The  Boston  Tran- 
script "  said,  "It  promises  to  have  a  larger  sale  than  '  Cudjo's  Cave.' 
It  is  impossible  lo  open  the  volume  at  any  page  without  being  fctruck  by 
the  quick  movement  and  pervading  anecdote  of  the  story." 

THE    DRUMMER    BOY. 

A  Story  of  Burnside's  Expedition.     Illustrated  by  F.  O.  C.  Darlet. 

"  The  most  popular  book  of  the  season.  It  will  sell  without  pushing." 
—  Ziuu'n  Herald. 

MARTIN    MERRIVALE:    His    X    Mark. 

"  Strong  in  humor,  pathos,  and  unabated  interest.  In  none  of  the  books 
Issued  from  the  American  press  can  there  be  found  a  purer  or  more  deli- 
cate sentiment,  a  more  genuine  good  taste,  or  a  nicer  appreciation  and 
brighter  delineation  of  character."  —  English  Journal. 

NEIGHBOR    JACKWOOD. 

A  story  of  New-England  life  in  the  slave-tracking  days.  Dramatized 
for  the  Boston  Museum,  it  had  a  long  run  to  crowded  houses.  The  story 
is  one  of  Trowbridge's  very  best. 

COUPON    BONDS,  and  other  Stories. 

The  leading  story  is  undoubtedly  the  most  popular  of  Trowbridge'* 
short  stories.  The  others  are  varied  in  character,  but  are  either  intensely 
interesting  or  "  highly  amusing." 

NEIGHBORS'    WIVES. 

An  ingenious  and  well-told  story.  Two  neighbors'  wives  are  tempted 
beyond  their  streugth  to  resist,  and  steal  ?ach  from  the  other.  One  is 
discovered  in  the  act,  under  ludicrous  and  humiliating  circumstances, 
but  's  generously  pardoned,  with  a  promise  of  secrecy.  Of  course  she 
L>i''d"B  her  secret,  and  of  course  perplexities  come.    It  is  a  capital  story. 

12mo.     Clolh.    Price  per  volume,  $1.50. 


Sold  by  all  bookseller*  and  newsdealers,  and  Kent  by  mail,  postpaid* 
on  receipt  of  price. 


"  If,  according  to  a  familiar  saying-,  he  is  a  benefactor  of  the 
race  "who  makes  one  blade  of  grass  grow  where  none  grew 
before,  much  more  is  he  to  be  reckoned  such  who  succeeds  in 
making  books  at  once  instructive  and  entertaining  for  boys. 
Such  is  the  good  fortune  of  Mr.  Optic,  if  we  may  designate  him 
by  his  '  nom  de  plume.'  He  appears  to  be  the  true  successor 
of  Peter  Parley,  who,  in  our  boyhood's  days,  was  the  most 
Interesting  character  then  living."  —  Xew  E^glajsider. 


BOSTON : 
LEE  AND  SHEPARD,   PUBLISHERS, 
No.  10  Milk  Street. 


OLIVER   OPTICS  BOOKS. 


THE  BOAT-BUILDER  SERIES 

Completed  in  Six  Volumes.     Illustrated. 
Per  Vol.,  $1.25. 


1.  ALL  ADRIFT; 

Or,  The  Gold  wing  Club. 

2.  SNUG  HARBOR; 

Or,  The  Champlain  Mechanics* 

3.  SQUARE  AND  COMPASS; 

Or,  Building  the  House. 

4.  STEM  TO  STERN; 

Or,  Building  the  Boat. 

5.  ALL  TAUT; 

Or,  Rigging  the  Boat. 

«.  READY  ABOUT; 

Or,  Sailing  the  Boat. 


The  series  includes  in  six  successive  volumes  the  whole  art 
of  boat-building,  boat-rigging,  boat-managing,  and  practical 
hints  to  make  the  ownership  of  a  boat  j>ay.  A  great  deal  of 
useful  information  will  be  given  in  this  Boat-Building  series, 
and  in  each  book  a  very  interesting  story  is  sure  to  be  inter- 
woven with  the  information.  Every  reader  will  be  interested 
at  once  in  "  Dory,"  the  hero  of  "All  Adrift,"  and  one  of  tin? 
characters  to  be  retained  in  the  future  volumes  of  the  series*, 
at  least  there  are  already  several  of  his  recently  made  friends 
who  do  not  want  to  lose  sight  of  him,  and  this  will  be  the 
case  of  pretty  much  every  boy  who  makes  his  acquaintance 
in  "All  Adrift." 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


ARMY  AND  NAYY  STORIES, 

Six  Volumes,     Illustrated.    Per  vol.,  $1.50. 


1.  THE  SOLDIER  BOY; 

Or,  Tom  Somers  in  the  Array. 

2.  THE  SAILOR  BOY; 

Or,  Jack  Somers  in  the  Navy. 

3.  THE  YOUNG   LIEUTENANT; 

Or,  Adventures  of  an  Army  Officer. 

4.  THE  YANKEE  MIDDY; 

Or,  Adventures  of  a  Navy  0,fl?*-er. 

5.  FIGHTING  JOE; 

Or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Staff  Officer, 

6.  BRAVE  OLD   SALT ; 

Or,  Iafe  on  the  Quarter-Deck. 


This  series  of  six  volumes  recounts  the  adventures  of  two 
orothers,  Tom  and  Jack  Somers,  one  in  the  arnry,  the  other  in 
the  navy,  in  the  great  civil  war.  The  romantic  narratives  of 
the  foi'tunes  and  exploits  of  the  brothers  are  thrilling  in  the 
extreme.  Historical  accuracy  in  the  recital  of  the  great 
events  of  that  period  is  strictly  followed,  and  the  result  is 
not  only  a  library  of  entertaining  volumes,  but  also  the  best 
history  of  the  civil  war  for  young  people  ever  written. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


ILLUSTRATION     TO 

ARMY  AND   NAVY  STORIES. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S   BOOKS. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   ABROAD. 

FIBST    SERIES. 

A  Iiilxrary  of  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Foreign  Lands.     16mo. 

Illustrated  by  Wast,  Stevens,  Perkins,  and  others. 

I*er  volume,  $1.50. 


1.  OUTWARD   BOUND; 

Or,  Young  America  Afloat. 

2.  SHAMROCK  AND  THISTLE; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Ireland  and  Scotland. 

3.  RED  CROSS; 

Or.  Young  America  in  England  and  Wales. 

4.  DIKES  AND  DITCHES; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Holland  and  Belgium. 

5.  PALACE  AND  COTTAGE; 

Or,  Young  America  in  France  and  Switzerland. 

o.   DOWN  THE  RHINE; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Germany. 


The  story  from  its  inception  and  through  the  twelve  vol- 
umes (^ee  Second  Series),  is  a  bewitching  one,  while  the  in- 
formation imparted,  concerning  the  countries  of  Europe  and 
the  isles  of  the  sea,  is  not  only  correct  in  every  particular,  but 
is  told  in  a  captivating  style.  "  Oliver  Optic"  will  continue 
to  be  the  bo,y's  friend,  and  his  pleasant  books  will  continue  to 
be  road  by  thousands  of  American  boys.  What  a  fine  holiday 
present  either  or  both  series  of  "  Young  America  Abroad" 
would  be  for  a  3Toung  friend  !  It  would  make  a  little  library 
highly  prized  by  the  recipient,  and  would  not  be  an  expensive 
one.  —  Providence  Press. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD. 

SECOND    SERIES. 

A.  Ubrary  of  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Foreign  Lan<|g.    16mo. 

Illustrated  by  Wast,  Stevens,  Perkins,  and  others. 

Per  volume,  $1.50. 


1.  UP  THE  BALTIC; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Norway,  Sweden,  and 
Denmark. 

2.  NORTHERN   LANDS; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Russia  and  Prussia. 

3.  CROSS  AND  CRESCENT; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Turkey  and  Greece. 

4.  SUNNY  SHORES; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Italy  and  Austria. 

5.  VINE  AND  OLIVE; 

Or,  Young  America  in  Spain  and  Portugal. 

6.  ISLES  OF  THE  SEA; 

Or,  Young  America  Homeward  Bound. 


"  Oliver  Optic"  is  a  noun  de plume  that  is  known  and  loved 
by  almost  every  boy  of  intelligence  in  the  land.  We  have 
seen  a  highly  intellectual  and  world-weary  man,  a  cynic  whose 
heart  was  somewhat  imbittered  bjr  its  large  experience  of 
human  nature,  take  up  one  of  Oliver  Optic's  books  and  read 
it  at  a  sitting,  neglecting  his  work  in  3-ielding  to  the  fascina- 
tion of  the  pages.  When  a  mature  and  exceedingly  well- 
informed  mind,  long  despoiled  of  all  its  freshness,  can  thus 
find  pleasure  in  a  book  for  boys,  no  additional  words  of  rec- 
ommendation are  needed.  —  Sunday  Times. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


WOODVILLE  STORIES. 

Uniform  with  Library  for  Young  People.    Six  vols.    16mo.    Illn» 
trated.    Per  vol.,  $1.35. 


1.  RICH  AND  HUMBLE; 

Oi,  Tne  Mission  of  Bertha  Grant. 

2.  IN  SCHOOL  AND  OUT; 

Or,  The  Conquest  of  Richard  Grant. 

3.  WATCH  AND  WAIT; 

Or,  The  Young  Fugitives. 

4.  WORK  AND  WIN ; 

Or,  Noddy  Newman  on  a  Cruise. 

5.  HOPE  AND  HAVE; 

Or,  Fanny  Gran},  among  the  Indians. 

6.  HASTE  AND  WASTE; 

Or,  The  Young  Pilot  of  Lake  Chain  plain. 


Though  we  are  not  so  young  as  we  once  were,  we  relished 
these  stories  almost  as  much  as  the  boys  and  girls  for  whom 
they  were  written.  They  were  really  refreshing  even  to  us. 
There  is  much  in  them  which  is  calculated  to  inspire  a  gener- 
ous, health}'  ambition,  and  to  make  distasteful  all  reading 
tending  to  stimulate  base  desires.  —  Fitcliburg  Reveille. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


ILLUSTRATION     TO 

THE  WOODVILLE  STORIES. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


THE  LAKE  SHORE  SERIES. 

Six  volumes.     Illustrated.    In  neat  box.     Per  vol.,  $1.95. 


1.  THROUGH   BY  DAYLIGHT; 

Or,  The  Young  Engineer  of  the  Lake  Shore 
Railroad. 

2.  LIGHTNING   EXPRESS; 

Or,  The  Rival  Academies. 

3.  ON  TIME; 

Or,  The  Youug  Captain  of  the  Ucayga  Steamer 

4.  SWITCH   OFF; 

Or,  The  War  of  the  Students. 

5.  BRAKE-UP; 

Or,  The  Young  Peacemakers. 

6.  BEAR  AND   FORBEAR; 

Or,  The  Young  Skipper  of  Lake  Ucayga. 


1 '  Oliver  Optic  "  is  one  of  the  most  fascinating  writers  foi 
youth,  and  withal  one  of  the  best  to  be  found  in  this  or  anj 
past  age.  Troops  of  young  people  hang  over  his  vivid  pages, 
and  not  one  of  them  ever  learned  to  be  mean,  ignoble,  cow* 
ardly,  selfish,  or  to  yield  to  any  vice  from  anything  they  eve* 
read  from  his  pen.  —  Providence  Press. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 

THE   STARRY  FLAG   SERIES. 

Six  volumes.    Illustrated.    Per  vol.,  $1.35. 


1.  THE  STARRY  FLAG; 

Or,  The  Young  Fisherman  of  Cape  Ana. 

2.  BREAKING  AWAY; 

Or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Student. 

3.  SEEK  AND   FIND; 

Or,  The  Adventures  of  a  Smart  Boy. 

4.  FREAKS  OF  FORTUNE; 

Or.  Half  Round  the  World. 

5.  MAKE  OR   BREAK; 

Or,  The  Rich  Man's  Daughter. 

6.  DOWN  THE  RIVER; 

Or,  Buck  Bradford  and  the  Tyrants. 


Mr.  Adams,  the  celebrated  and  popular  writer,  familiarly 
/nown  as  "  Oliver  Optic,"  seems  to  have  inexhaustible  funds 
for  weaving  together  the  virtues  of  life ;  and  notwithstanding 
he  has  written  scores  of  books,  the  same  freshness  and  nov- 
ehy  runs  through  them  all.  Some  people  think  the  sensa- 
tional element  predominates.  Perhaps  it  does.  But  a  book 
for  young  people  needs  this  ;  and  so  long  as  good  sentiments 
are  inculcated  such  books  ought  to  be  read.  —  Pittsburg  Ga- 
zette. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


."""',"  ''  ?!■"""■■  ^'"^''■I'llli': 


::*:Si; 1)4 ,;:' 


jinii».i'L'U....ij',c  i!  rai0»#i"«2;   **' 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


THE  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD 

SERIES. 

Complete  in  six  volumes.    Illustrated.    In  neat  bex. 

Per  volume,  $1.35. 


1.  FIELD  AND  FOREST; 

Or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Farmer. 

2.  PLANE  AND  PLANK; 

Or,  The  Mishaps  of  a  Mechanic. 

3.  DESK  AND  DEBIT; 

Or,  The  Catastrophes  of  a  Clerk. 

4.  CRINGLE  AND  CROSS-TREE; 

Or,  The  Sea  Swashes  of  a  Sailor. 

5.  BIVOUAC  AND  BATTLE; 

Or,  The  Struggles  of  a  Soldier. 

6.  SEA  AND  SHORE; 

Or,  The  Tramps  of  a  Traveller. 


Paul  Farringford,  the  hero  of  these  tales,  is,  like  most  of 
Ibis  author's  heroes,  a  young  man  of  high  spirit,  and  of  high 
aims  and  correct  principles,  appearing  in  the  different  vol* 
umes  as  a  farmer,  a  captain,  a  bookkeeper,  a  soldier,  a  sailor, 
and  a  traveller.  In  all  of  them  the  hero  meets  with  very 
exciting  adventures,  told  in  the  graphic  style  for  which  tins 
author  is  famous.  —  Native. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


FAMOUS  "BOAT-CLUB"  SEEIES. 

Library  for  lroung  People.    Six  volumes,  handsomely  illustrated. 

.Per  volume,  $1.35. 


1.  THE  BOAT  CLUB; 

Or,  The  Bunkers  of  Rippleton. 

2.  ALL  ABOARD; 

Or,  Life  on  the  Lake. 

3.  NOW  OR  NEVER; 

Or,  The  Adventures  of  Bobby  Bright. 

4.  TRY  AGAIN  ; 

Or,  The  Trials  and  Triumphs  of  Harry  Weft 

5.  POOR  AND  PROUD; 

Or,  The  Fortunes  of  Katy  Redbnrn. 

6.  LITTLE  BY  LITTLE; 

Or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Flyaway. 


This  is  the  first  series  of  books  written  for  the  young  by 
*  Oliver  Optic."  It  laid  the  foundation  for  his  fame  as  the 
first  of  authors  in  which  the  3roung  delight,  and  gained  for 
him  the  title  of  the  Prince  of  Story-Tellers.  The  six  books 
are  varied  in  incident  and  plot,  but  all  are  entertaining  and 
original. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


ILLUSTRATION     TO 


THE  FAMOUS  "  BOAT-CLUB  "  SERIES. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 

THE  QREAT  WESTERN 

SERIES. 

Six  Volumes.    Illustrated.    Per  vol.,  $1.50. 


1.  GOING  WEST; 

Or,  The  Perils  of  a  Poor  Boy. 

2.  OUT  WEST; 

Or,  Roughing  it  on  the  Great  Lakes. 

3.  LAKE  BREEZES; 

Or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Sylvania. 

4.  GOING   SOUTH  ; 

Or,  Yachting  on  the  Atlantic  Coast 

5.  DOWN   SOUTH; 

Or,  Yacht  Adventures  in  Florida.    (In  Press 

6.  UP  THE   RIVER; 

Or,  Yachting  on  the  Mississippi.    (In  Press.) 


This  is  the  latest  series  of  books  issued  by  this  popular 
writer,  and  deals  with  Life  on  the  Great  Lakes,  for  which  a 
careful  study  was  made  by  the  author  in  a  summer  tour  of  the 
immense  water  sources  of  America.  The  story,  which  carries 
the  same  hero  through  the  six  books  of  the  series,  is  always 
entertaining,  novel  scenes  and  varied  incidents  giving  a  con- 
stantly cnanging,  yet  alwaj's  attractive  aspect  to  the  narra- 
tive.    "Oliver  Optic"  has  written  nothing  better. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


ILLUSTRATION    TO 

THE  GREAT  WESTERN  SERIES. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


YACHT  CLUB  SERIES. 

Vaifor««i  witH  the  ever  popular  "Boat  Club,"  Series,     Completed 
in  six  vols.    lGino.    Illustrated.    Per  vol.,  $1.50. 


1.  LITTLE  BOBTAIL; 

Or,  The  Wreck  of  the  Penobscot. 

2.  THE  YACHT  CLUB; 

Or,  The  Young  Boat-Builders. 

3.  MONEY-MAKER; 

Or,  The  Victory  of  the  Basilisk. 

4.  THE  COMING  WAVE; 

Or,  The  Treasure  of  High  Rock. 

6.  THE  DORCAS  CLUB; 

Or,  Our  CJirls  Afloat. 

6.  OCEAN   BORN; 

Or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Clubs. 


The  series  has  this  peculiarity,  that  all  of  its  constituent 
volumes  are  independent  of  one  another,  and  therefore  each 
story  is  complete  in  itself.  "Oliver  Optic"  is  perhaps  the 
favorite  author  of  the  boys  and  girls  of  this  country,  and  he 
seems  destined  to  enjoy  an  endless  popularity.  He  deserves 
his  success,  for  he  makes  very  interesting  stories,  and  incul- 
cates none  but  the  best  sentiments  ;  and  the  ' '  Yacht  Club  * 
is  no  exception  to  this  rule. — New  Haven  Jour,  omd  Courier. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


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OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


RIVERDALE   STORY-BOOKS. 


Twelve  Volumes,  profusely  illustrated.    A  new  edition  from  new 

type.    Cloth,  per  vol.,  35  cts.     Boards,  Illustrated 

Covers,  25  cts. 


This  Cut  represents  the  12  vols,  in  the  New  Style  Board  Cover,  in  Colors. 


The  "  Riverdale  Stories  "  are  a  series  of  short,  bright  sto< 
ries  for  younger  children,  but  they  all  display  the  author's 
talent  for  pleasing  "  Little  Folks "  as  well  as  the  older 
children.  They  are  all  fresh,  taking  stories,  preaching  no 
sermons  but  inculcating  good  lessons. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


ILLUSTRATIONS     TO 

THE   RIVERDALE   STORY-BOOKS. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


IN  DOORS  AND  OUT: 


OK, 


VIEWS   FROM   A   CHIMNEY   CORNER. 

l'-imo.      Numerous  Illustrations.      $1.50. 


Differing  from  other  books  of  this  popular  author  in  that  it 
is  intended  for  adult  readers,  while  the  others  are  written  for 
young  people. 

It  contains  about  thirt}r  bright  and  interesting  stories  of 
a  domestic  order,  directed  against  the  follies  and  foibles  of 
the  age.  They  are  written  in  a  kindly,  genial  style,  and  with 
a  sincere  purpose  to  promote  happiness,  good  feeling,  and 
right  dealing  in  domestic,  business,  and  social  relations. 

Many  who  have  not  time  and  patience  to  wade  through  a 
long  story,  will  find  here  many  pithy  and  sprightly  tales,  each 
sharply  hitting  some  social  absurdity  or  social  vice.  We 
recommend  the  book  heartily  after  having  read  the  three 
chapters  on  "  Taking  a  Newspaper."  If  all  the  rest  are  as 
sensible  and  interesting  as  these,  and  doubtless  they  are,  the 
book  is  well  worthy  of  patronage.  — Vermont  Record. 

As  a  writer  of  domestic  stories,  Mr.  William  T.  Adams 
(Oliver  Optic)  made  his  mark  even  before  he  became  so  im- 
mensely popular  through  his  splendid  books  for  the  young. 
In  the  volume  before  us  are  given  several  of  these  tales,  and 
they  comprise  a  book  which  will  give  them  a  popularity 
greater  than  they  have  ever  before  enjoyed.  The}'  are  writ- 
ten in  a  spirited  style,  impart  valuable  practical  lessons,  and 
are  of  the  most  lively  interest.  We  have  seen  these  stories 
likened  to  Arthur's  domestic  tales ;  but  while  they  instil 
equally  as  valuable  lessons,  we  think  them  written  with  much 
more  force  and  spirit.  —  Boston  Home  Journal. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


ILLUSTRATION    TO 

IN   DOORS  AND  OUT. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


FOR   ADULT    READERS. 


THE  WAY  OF  THE  WORLD. 


12mo.      Cloth.      Illustrated,     $1.75. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  American  novels  we  have  evei 
read.  —  Philadelphia  City  Item. 

This  story  treats  of  a  fortune  of  $3,000,000,  left  a  youth- 
ful  heir.  The  volume  comprises  464  pages,  and  bears  evi- 
dence in  every  chapter  of  the  fresh,  original  and  fasci- 
nating style  which  has  always  enlivened  Mr.  Adams's  pro- 
ductions. We  have  the  same  felicitous  manner  of  working 
out  the  plot  by  conversation,  the  same  quaint  wit  and  humor, 
and  a  class  of  characters  which  stand  out  boldly,  pen  pho- 
tographs of  living  beings.  The  enlightened  and  liberal 
man  of  wealth  ;  the  scheming  doctor ;  the  polished  and  un- 
principled artist ;  the  innocent  victim  of  man's  perfidy  ;  the 
fiery  brother,  bursting  out  at  his  sister's  wrongs  ;  and  all  the 
minor  characters  are  well-drawn. 

The  book  furnishes  a  most  romantic,  and  withal  a  most 
instructive  illustration  of  the  way  of  the  world  in  its  false 
estimate  of  money.  All  who  read  the  first  chapter  entitled 
"Three  Millions,"  will  not  be  satisfied  until  they  have  read 
the  thirty-five  chapters  terminating  with  "The  Last  of  the 
Three  Millions." 


This  story  is  fascinating,  and  you  will  be  pleased  ana 
'profited  by  reading  it. 


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OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


FOR   ADULT    READERS. 


LIVING    TOO    FAST; 

OR, 

THE  CONFESSIONS  OF  A  BANK  OFFICER. 


12mo.      Clotn.      Illustrated.       $1.50. 


This  is  a  most  entertaining  story,  and  it  also  carries  with 
it  an  excellent  moral,  self-evident  to  almost  any  reader.  It 
is  beautifully  printed  and  graphically  illustrated.  The  scene 
of  the  story  is  laid  in  Boston  ;  and  the  author's  experience 
wfth  his  mother-in-law  is  very  readable,  as  is  also  his  reckless 
expenditures  for  his  wife's  sake,  he  harboring  a  false  pride 
which  inclined  him  to  think  that  keeping  up  appearances  was 
nearly  the  whole  life.  If  you  want  to  place  a  thoroughly  en- 
tertaining and  profitable  book  in  your  library,  do  not  fail  to 
send  to  the  publishers  of  this  charming  story,  who  will  promptly 
furnish  it  on  receipt  of  the  price.  - — Boston  Cultivator. 

"  Here  is  the  last  and  best  work  of  that  instructive  author. 
It  is  full  of  incidents  of  a  fast  life,  the  expedients  to  keep 
up  appearances,  resulting  in  crime,  remorse,  and  the  evil 
opinion  of  all  good  men.  The  narrative  is  replete  with 
startling  situations,  temptations,  and  all  that  makes  up  a 
thrilling  story,  in  the  semblance  of  an  autobiography  welfc 
rendered,  sprightly,  pathetic,  with  a  dash  of  sensation. 


OLIVER    OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


Jllustration  to    LIVING  TOO   FAST- 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S  BOOKS. 


WILLIAM  T.  ADAMS, 

Familiarly  known  as  "  Oliver  Optic,*'  was  bom  in  Medway,  Mass.,  July 
30,  1822.  His  first  juvenile  book,  "The  Boat  Club,"  was  published  in 
1854,  since  which  time  he  has  published  over  seventy  volumes,  of  which 
upwards  of  a  million  copies  have  been  sold,  while  the  demand  for  them  ii 
ateady  and  continuous. 

This  great  success  and  enduring  popularity  are  not  without  plain  under 
lying  causes,  first  of  which,  of  course,  must  he  mentioned  natural  aptitude; 
then  a  thorough  sympathy  with  boys,  and  familiarity  with  their  needs  and 
desires,  probably  acquired  in  his  long  and  varied  school  experience;  then 
the  absolute  dearth  of  books  suited  to  the  wide-awake  American  youth  of 
both  sexes  prior  to  Mr.  Adams'  appearance  as  their  entertainer. 

At  a  recent  dedication  of  a  branch  of  the  Boston  Public  Library,  in 
Dorchester,  Mr.  Adams  said:  "When  I  began  to  write  stories  for  the 
young,  I  had  a  distinct  purpose  in  my  mind.  How  well  I  remember  the 
books  I  read  unknown  to  my  parents,  when  I  was  a  boy!  There  were 
'  The  Three  Spaniards,'  'Alonzo  and  Melissa,'  '  The  Mysteries  of  Udolpho,' 
'  Rinaldo  Rinaldini,'  '  Freemantle,  the  Privateersman,'  and  similar  works, 
not  often  found  at  the  present  time  on  the  shelves  of  the  booksellers,  though 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  their  places  have  been  filled  with  books  hardly  less  perni- 
cious. The  hero  of  these  stories  was  a  pirate,  a  highwayman,  a  smuggler,  or 
a  bandit.  He  was  painted  in  glowing  colors,  and  in  admiring  his  boldness, 
my  sympathies  were  with  this  outlaw  and  outcast  of  society.  These  books 
■were  bad,  very  bad,  because  they  brought  the  reader  in  sympathy  with 
evil  and  wicked  men.  It  seemed  to  me  that  stories  just  as  interesting, 
just  as  exciting,  if  you  please,  could  be  written  without  any  of  the  evil 
tendencies  of  these  harmful  books.  I  have  tried  to  do  this  in  the  stories 
I  have  written  for  young  people.  I  have  never  written  a  story  which 
would  excite  the  love,  admiration,  and  sympathy  of  the  reader  for  an  evil 
person,  a  bad  character.  I  have  never  made  a  hero  whose  moral  character, 
or  whose  lack  of  high  aims  and  purposes,  could  mislead  the  young  i  eador. 
This  has  been  my  standard,  and  however  others  may  regard  it,  I  deem  it 
a  safe  one." 

Any  of  Oliver  Optic's  books,  either  in  single  volumes,  or  in  sets,  can  be  pro- 
cured of  all  Booksellers  ;  or  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postage,  paid,  on  receipt  of  price. 
Libraries  supplied.  Catalogue  of  our  publications  sent  free  by  mail  to  any  address, 
on  application. 

LEE  AND  SHEPARD,  Publishers,  Boston,  Mass. 


m. 


